Australia Proposes New Duty of Care for Dating Apps

Australia is proposing new online safety legislation that would place more responsibility on dating apps to protect users from harm. The Digital Duty of Care would require platforms to identify foreseeable risks and take steps to reduce them.

Australia already has a Voluntary Online Dating Code, introduced in October 2024 following a government-led push to improve safety on dating platforms. Signatories include Tinder, Hinge, Match, Plenty of Fish, Bumble, Grindr, eharmony, MeetMe and several other dating services. Companies that sign up commit to measures around reporting, moderation and user safety. However, the code is voluntary rather than legally enforced.

The government is now proposing a Digital Duty of Care as part of changes to Australia’s Online Safety Act. An exposure draft was released on 8 September 2026. The proposal would require online services, including dating apps, to identify and reduce foreseeable risks of serious harm. The consultation period closes today (22 September), and legislation is expected to be introduced to parliament in October.

The proposal comes alongside new research into women’s experiences on dating apps in Australia. A study of 1,008 heterosexual women found that 99% had experienced at least one harmful behaviour on a dating app in the previous three months. Some 95% reported psychological or emotional harm, while 89% experienced monitoring or surveillance. Almost six in ten reported fear-based controlling behaviour, including threats of physical harm. Only around 22% of those women reported the threats to the platforms. Source: BIT Study

The research argues that users should not be expected to manage these risks alone. Under the proposed duty, dating platforms would have greater responsibility for identifying risks and addressing them before users report an incident.