Policy wonk Elena Magrina at Inline Policy has written an article about regulation and the online dating industry, with a focus on the UK market.
In the UK, the Online Dating Association (ODA) was set up by industry members in 2013, as they took collective responsibility for their market and operations. The industry decided to self-regulate and created a Code of Practice. As George Kidd, Director and Chief Executive at the ODA, explains: “the industry did not just want to rely on the State to provide regulation and protection in relation to trading practices, privacy matters and the safety of users.”
The ODA Code focuses mainly on the following issues:
- Advertising and communications
- The use of personal data
- Appropriate advice and guidance to users
Online dating industry legislation stalled out in the US years ago. Let’s see if the UK can make a of of it.
Read Online dating: growth, regulation, and future challenges.
