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New Jersey Governor Jim Corizon yesterday signed bill SB1977, which opponents argue will impose what critics consider unenforceable and problematic restrictions on dating sites and foster confusion among dating site visitors. For some historical perspective, similar bills aimed at moderating online dating have been proposed, and have failed, in Illinois, Michigan, Florida, Texas, Virginia, Ohio, and California.
I will not go so far as to call the bill unconstitutional, as Emily Hackett at the Internet Alliance does, but I will say it is one slipshod piece of legislation. I mean that with the utmost respect for the NJ legislature, which clearly wasn’t well-enough informed about the bill as it passed through committee. Compared to homeland security and budget issues, a bill about putting 12 point text on a website is not a top priority.
I would have liked to speak with the legislative committee as they crafted the bill, which they say they based on similar legislation in Florida. Walking them through a typical online daters experience on various dating sites, discussing how sites will identify members within certain states (how do you do this on free sites?), what it means for dating sites and other issues the clearly have not entered into the discussion.
NJ Senate leader Richard Cody stated:
Hopefully this bill will remind people that they need to be cautious when using online dating sites. At the very least, this law will make people aware of whether or not a site does criminal background checks. Hopefully this will spark a dialogue and encourage people to take precautions, regardless of whether a site does background checks or not.
A law that reminds people to use common sense, how obvious. Did anyone spend a coffee break and think about the implications? What if the dating site offers background checks, but the customer has to pay for them? Does the dating site have to provide them automatically to be exempt from the warning? What if they are accessing the site from out of state?
Often, a dating site will have an affiliate program. Visitors enter the site through special customized landing pages. If they visited the site through an affiliate link, the site knows absolutely nothing about the person, so how can it know which messaging to display?
True.com of course Applauds Lawmakers for Passing Landmark Safer Dating Legislation. They started the whole process via the Safer Online Dating Alliance (SODA). Does anyone know how many dating sites belong to SODA?
True.com founder Herb Vest admits that legislation doesn’t make online dating safer, right in the press release.
I can’t guarantee that ex-felons and married individuals cannot get on TRUE; but, I can guarantee that they will be very, very sorry they did.”
How much will it cost for dating sites to create a new program which identifies a person is from New Jersey and displays the correct messaging on dynamic landing pages, email communications, chats and winks? $5,000, $25,000? Did anyone stop to think about this? How many dating sites will go out of business because they cannot afford to develop such a program?
Is SODA going to create a program and offer it free of charge that can be used by the majority of dating sites to comply with the new law? If not, the overall cost to the industry could be in the millions.
Via Online Personals Watch. Ars Technica has more details.
In related news Paidcontent says that Myspace announcing a joint effort with state attorneys general via the Multi-State Working Group on Social Networking. The effort launches with a “Statement on Key Principles of Social Networking Sites Safety� meant to be used industry-wide.
I wish the dating industry would get together like the social networks and create a similar working group that is inclusive of any dating site that wants to join. Systems need to be put in place to protect singles online, but this is not the right way to go about it. Serious discussion needs to occur, solutions need to be evaluated, a public review opportunity with feedback sessions and clearly defined solution that dating sites can follow to adhere to the law. Anything less is a disservice to singles and the dating industry.
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Don’t believe everything Herb Vest says! True issued a press release on the coat tails of the new bill that passed in every state but TEXAS where True.com/Herb Vest operate. I image he is looking for some attention as usually!
The affiliates that True.com and Herb Vest owe money to may need to filed a class action lawsuit. They better file it pretty quick too! There is another lawsuit against Herb Vest and the detective business he started and used to stalk the ex-fiancee for nearly 7 years. Teresa Koehlar vs Herb Vest and H.D. Vest Investigations,LLC, the 192nd District Court, Dallas Texas. Case# 07-10005. I wonder if all the legal problems and bills are behind the reason True.com won’t/can’t paid their bills? Vest’s 2 sons that bailed him out of trouble with 7.5 millions have tried for several years to get their money back, but Vest refuses and basically disowned them. My investigations have discovered Vest and his wife chartering a yacht that cost around $250,000 a week as long as a month. Yet can’t paid his bills! The IRS should check True.com’s taxes for personal travel, personal legal fees and personal employees to start with on the company dime.
Vest has stalked his ex-fiancee for years and there are documents, photos, videos, bills, invoices, and depositions to prove it. Beginning in July 2001. The documents show over 5 years of Vest stalking her even after Vest got married. The lead detective goes on in the depo to say Vest loved her and not his now wife. Vest has had as many as 7 people following at one time and as long as 3 months. Vest’s personal history of womanizing, threesomes with lesbians, and hookers are reflected in his ads. Can’t hide your spots!
Vest and his attorney have flat out lied to the courts and sent a letter to the court that it was “untrue.� Vest and his attorney claimed in the courts that Vest gave the fiancee 2 million beginning in 1996. Now Vest can decide who he lied and defrauded the IRS and SEC or the fiancee and the courts? Something tells me either way Vest is going to having more and bigger legal fees. I also suspect by the end of the year Vest will be in prison. He has to decide if it will be Federal or State prison now.
Vest’s two sons loaned Vest 7.5 million when he was in financial trouble. Now Vest has disowned his sons and refused to repay. Vest has even gone as far as telling them to “prove it� and “sue me� Vest was the trustee on his oldest son’s account and without permission or knowledge that account was cleaned out by Vest. Vest’s own mother accused him of fraud and forgery by signing her name to a note issued to her when she helped her son start his business. More tax fraud on a publicly traded company?
If Vest does this to the people that love him and he claimed to love. Is it that hard to believe that he would lie and deceive his customers and affiliates?
Vest is living large in Dallas with a new 300K+ Maybanc car and new home in the works of millions. He hasn’t paid a dime to his sons and in fact left one holding the bag for his current home. They are broke and he is riding around in a 300K car. I wonder if the car is titled to True.com or Vest
There is a class action lawsuit against True.com filed in Dallas. If you have been ripped off by True.com contact: filed by Washington D.C. based Tycko & Zavareei LLP along with Dallas, Texas based Crews, Shepherd & McCarty LLP. District Court of Dallas County, Texas, and is titled “Wong v. True Beginnings, LLC.� True Beginnings, LLC. Vest also goes by HDVE.
It is time for the FBI, IRS, SEC, DTP, Dallas DA and Texas DA to investigate Mr. Vest.
Posted by Mark from Russia of from Russia pm December. Pricey cars, clothes and homes owned by CEOs motivate workers, says Herb Vest, founder and CEO of dating site True.
As for “How do you expect sites to identify the state where people are?” – have you never heard of IP targeting? Seriously, welcome to the 21st century. As for those of you who say, “What about AOL IP ranges? How many people today actually use AOL dial-up? :)
And on the extremist posting the guy above had… are you sure they’re not paying their bills? After talking to a few of their largest partners, everyone seems to be doing just fine: AZ, MySpace, to name a few.
Ty
Aff of several dating sites
Of course I know what IP targeting is. Read the wording of the bill and notice the ambiguity in enforcement details. Who exactly is supposed to see warning messages, in what context and when? About all we know for sure is the 12 point type. What if I’m a NJ resident but I’m accessing the site on the road? These basic issues are not covered in the law, not even close.
My main problem is that going state-by-state is going to be a huge hassle, either put together a nationwide law or for get it. The social networking world is in talks with the attorneys general, read the past few days of the New York Times.
Why didn’t the dating industry follow suit? Why does it, after three years of discussion (or lack thereof), only have this ridiculous law full of loopholes to show for it’s efforts?
What partners are you talking to? How are they doing just fine? That’s a throwaway statement if you can’t back it up.
True.com listed an employee as their PR rep. There has been a couple of PR companies listed before. Something else that is odd is Vest hasn’t been as vocal, since all the legal problems. Most statements credited to Vest/True.com come from the press page off the website and it hasn’t been updated in years, or a press release from the company. Why won’t True or Herb answer? Maybe his attorney advised him to stop talking?
The point to the info on Vest is that he claims to be “wholesome and a safe environment for courtship” Protecting his customers from stalkers and liars…Yet he is a liar and stalker. Defrauding his customers with fake winks and billing their credit cards when they canceled, A 99 cent fee included in the monthly fee for “True’s love expert” Ask Fite. I might add is Vest’s wife Kerensa Vest at one point True claimed was a free coaching service to their members. Mrs. Vest only seems to use her maiden name on this website. That is what the class action lawsuit filed against True is about. If Vest can rip-off his own mother and kids what is so hard to believe he wouldn’t rip-off strangers? There are reports the tests True.com claims to be so great are not accurate and personal information obtain is being used for other purposes then match making as well. Endorsement claims are deceptive and misleading. The list goes on and on.
The public should be made aware of the deceptive personal and business practices by True.com and the people that owns and runs the business. What is True about True?
know you are from New Jersey. The legislation lets people know if a background check is performed on members, which maybe they should already know, but do not. This legislation takes the assumptions out and replaces them with facts. As for enforcing it, it really is not that hard. the area code provided let’s the company know if they are a New Jersey resident. As for the claim that SODA is True.com, SODA is an alliance of more than 100 companies who want online dating to be safer. True.com is one of them, but only 1 out of more than 1oo companies.
What are these 100 companies? I’d like to see a list.
I’m sorry. I meant Zip code. As for the list, I couldn’t find a listing of all the members, but I could find out that law enforcement and community groups are a part of it. I know it consists of different crisis centers for women, community groups against assault and sexual assault and groups against internet predators and pedophiles.
SODA is not True.com. True.com is 1 of over a hundred members of SODA. Supporting one does not mean I support the other. Encouraging greater safety awareness for people who date online is a good thing. The background checks performed may still allow people online who shouldn’t be there, but making people aware of the facts and how to stay safe is in everyone’s best interest.
I understand you have a grudge against True.com, but this isn’t about them. This is about legislation that affects all online dating companies in New Jersey.
I believe in lowering the amount assualt and sexual assault cases that take place in online dating.
Shouldn’t everyone support that?
Laws have to be made and changed for the age of the Internet. The lawmakers are years behind the times! Lawmakers admitted there is no way to enforce the laws and have no idea where to begin. Personally, I would began with child predators and a registrations of all computers and full disclosure of the users. The government has a very good tracing system right now that the states and local law enforcement would benefit from. This bill is fluff and all show.
As for True.com I have a grudge against a company that defrauds, scams, lies on the backs of people who are looking to love a be loved. True.com is a serial predator. True couldn’t make it honestly, so they turn to porn, billing scrams, and many more deceptive practices. Most people don’t think a company claiming to be the safest and wholesome would rip them off!
Tip: Any time a business requires a credit card for a “free trail” RUN and block them from contacting you.
WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE?
Does anyone else wonder why a self proclaimed activist organization has only supported True.com’s attempts at online safety laws and only in the states that True.com and Herb Vest. What about the support is about background check warnings labels that is exactly the agenda of True.com and Herb Vest. SODA. only gives a P.O. Box as their address, and the News stories promote fear mongering and True.com. How about the lawmakers mentioned on this site Have received big donations from Herb Vest and/or True.com. How about the fact that SODA doesn’t report that all the bills listed failed and there are no current updates on efforts. No detail endorsements info or links? SOMETHING SMELLS, I THINK IT IS HERB VEST AND TRUE.COM
Safer Online Dating Alliance, Inc.
PO Box 92528
Washington, D.C. 20090-2528
(202) 386-6918
From website: http://www.saferonlinedating.org/
Get Involved
Interested in joining the Safer Online Dating Alliance? You�ll be among a host of citizens committed to enhancing the safety of the online dating community by requesting the opportunity for fully informed online dating consumers. Plus, membership is FREE! Examples of potential members include relatives, organizations, friends, colleagues, etc.
Public Policy
Although no single solution will eradicate sexual predators from cyberspace, safer online dating legislation is a major step in the right direction in promoting safety of online dating consumers. State Legislatures have a duty and the opportunity to protect consumers and citizens throughout the nation. By approving the safeguards outlined in safer online dating legislation, our lawmakers can give online daters the knowledge they need to be fully informed consumers.
Florida
Track Florida�s Safer Online Dating Legislation
HB 531 – Internet Predator Awareness
SB 1224 – Internet Predator Awareness Act [EPCC]
Texas
Efforts in the most recent Texas 79th Texas Legislative Session were to make online dating safer by requiring providers of online dating services to provide full disclosure to their users as to whether or not felony criminal background screenings were being run on their communicating members. Specifically, if service providers do not conduct criminal background screenings, they would be required to notify users this safeguard is not provided.
Read more…
Michigan
Letter from Michigan State Senator Alan Cropsey
Dear SODA Supporters of Texas:
As you know, protecting citizens from convicted felons, especially convicted sex offenders, is one of the primary functions of government and vital to the safety of residents in every state.
Read more
Track Michigan�s Safer Online Dating Legislation (SB 286)
California
Efforts in the most recent California Legislative Session were to make online dating safer by requiring providers of online dating services to provide full disclosure to their users as to whether or not felony criminal background screenings were being run on their communicating members. Specifically, if service providers do not conduct criminal background screenings, they would be required to notify users this safeguard is not provided.
Read more…
Ohio
Efforts in the most recent session of the Ohio Legislature were to make online dating safer by requiring providers of online dating services to provide full disclosure to their users as to whether or not felony criminal background screenings were being run on their communicating members.
Read more…
Virginia
Efforts in the most recent session of the Virginia General Assembly were to make online dating safer by requiring providers of online dating services to provide full disclosure to their users as to whether or not felony criminal background screenings were being run on their communicating members.
Read more…
Safer Online Dating Alliance
E-mail SODA
I think your hatred for True.com has once again taken you off the issue at hand. This legislation is a first for online dating and is the beginning of laws meant to protect online daters. You can hate True.com all you want, but even you have to admit that this is a step in the right direction.
I don’t hate True.com, however I don’t like the deceptive business practices of Herb Vest. As for the new law it won’t do anything to make online dating safer and there is no way to enforce it either. I believe it gives people a false sense of security and that makes it dangerous!
Also, more information of True.com. Apparently, pink slips are going out and explanation of termination’s aren’t included. Is this the beginning of the end for True.com? Nobody in their right mind would invest or buy this business. A couple of years ago Vest put out a rumor that Yahoo was interested in True.com. Guess Vest thought that would draw interest..it didn’t.
You ever find the list of members of SODA? The info you gave sounds and looks like the info posted on http://www.HerbVest.com. link on Vest site goes to http://www.true.com/saferdating. Interesting thing about the SODA website. Only one of the links were working and it is misleading. A list of organizations that could lead someone to believe these organization are members of SODA. I have contacted a few that are listed and they don’t know who True.com or SODA is, nor do they support them. Also, they are not happy about being used without their knowledge and/or permission.
Interesting change on True.com Background checks seem to have been changed to screen:
“Safety first — We’re the only leading online relationship site that screens all communicating members against some of the largest criminal records databases on the Internet.”
Has anyone else notice the ads True.com has of young girls in tiny bikinis? Most be for Valentine’s Day. Any one else see the conflict of very young girls in bikinis and True.com’s/Herb Vest statement to be safest and provide a wholesome environment for courtship?
Wow, you mentioned that you were not able to find a list of SODA members. If that is true, how were you able to contact them and ask if they were members? Just curious.
Flinghotties.com
Seawizard