Tinder Terms Update Restricts US Consumers’ Right to Sue

An update to Tinder’s terms in the US has sought to make it more difficult to sue the platform.

Section 16 of the agreement, titled ‘Retroactive and Prospective Arbitration, Class-Action Waiver, and Jury Waiver’, looks to settle disputes via the American Arbitration Association rather than the courts.

It reads: “BOTH YOU AND TINDER GIVE UP THE RIGHT TO GO TO COURT to assert or defend any claims between you and Tinder (except for matters that may be properly taken to a small claims court and are within such court’s jurisdiction).

“YOU ALSO GIVE UP YOUR RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN A CLASS ACTION OR OTHER CLASS PROCEEDING, including, without limitation, any past, pending or future class actions, including those existing as of the date of this Agreement.”

Tinder says the terms change captures existing lawsuits, such as Allan Candelore v. Tinder, Inc. (which claims age discrimination) and Hawkins v. IAC/Interactivecorp dba Tinder, (which claims discrimination against transgender people).

Existing Tinder users have a ‘one-time right’ to opt out of the terms change.

To do so, they must email Tinder at tinderoptout@match.com with their full name, address, email address and / or phone number associated with their Tinder account, as well as a statement that they wish to opt out.

The email must be sent within 30 days of today’s date (Tuesday May 15).

Read more here.