The International Association of Dating Websites has issued a press release announcing opposition to proposed legislation that would require all dating websites to either do criminal background checks for all of their members, or post a very large disclaimer on the website’s home page saying that no background checks are being performed.
Rich Gosse, Founder of IADW:
This is unfair to the online dating industry. No other websites are required to do background checks. Most offline dating services and matchmakers do not perform background checks, nor do speed dating, other singles organizations, and newspaper personal ads. Only a tiny percentage of the many hundreds of thousands of organizations and associations in America do criminal background checks. So why single out the online dating industry?IADW believes that every dating website should caution its members about safety issues. But requiring a criminal background check would be costly. One of the main reasons that the online dating industry is able to provide quality service to so many millions of singles is because the process is inexpensive. Criminal background checks can easily double the cost, making it too pricy for millions of singles. Offering criminal background checks as an option (at additional cost) is the proper way to address this issue.
Anyone wishing more information may visit www.iadw.org or call 415/507-9962.
