Match Group to Pay $650,000 Over New Jersey Safety Disclosures
Match Group will pay $650,000 and change how its dating platforms disclose criminal background screening practices to New Jersey users under a settlement with the state.
The settlement, announced September 1 by the New Jersey Attorney General and Division of Consumer Affairs, resolves allegations that Match Group misrepresented or failed to adequately disclose its criminal background screening policies. The state said the conduct violated the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act, Internet Dating Safety Act and related regulations.
Match Group operates a number of dating services, including Match, Tinder, Hinge, Plenty of Fish, OurTime, BLK, Chispa, Upward and BlackPeopleMeet.
Under the consent order, Match Group must accurately describe the screening practices of its affiliated services for New Jersey users. Platforms that conduct criminal background checks as defined by state law must also notify existing New Jersey members of changes to their disclosures within 150 days, using email or a pop-up notification.
The disclosures must explain how screenings are conducted, whether the information is updated and how frequently, and whether users with criminal convictions, including convictions requiring sex offender registration, are permitted to communicate with New Jersey members. Platforms must also state which offenses, if any, would prevent someone from using the service to communicate with users in the state.
The settlement also requires safety notices explaining the limitations of criminal background checks. Users must be told that screenings are not foolproof, criminal databases may not always be current and individuals can potentially circumvent screening systems. The disclosures must also explain that screenings are generally limited to publicly available conviction information and do not cover convictions in foreign countries.
