Tinder has announced users in the U.S. are now able to run background checks on the people they match with. Users will be able to access information on harmful behaviour, including arrests, convictions, and sex offender registry records.
Tinder explained that some offences, however, will not be available, including drug possession and loitering, as those offences “disproportionately affect traditionally marginalised communities”.
The new feature will be conducted through the not-for-profit organisation Garbo, which specialises in online background checks.
Users can access up to two free background checks, with a total of 500,000 available. After that, users will need to pay a $US2.50 fee per transaction. Tinder said all funds made from the background checks will go towards Garbo.
Tinder has previously been criticised for having people convicted of crimes on its app.
In 2019, an investigation by ProPublica, BuzzFeed, and Columbia Journalism Investigations found known sex predators were using Tinder.
“We know that the biggest indicator of future abuse or violence is a history of these types of behaviours. Whether it’s online dating or the dozens of other ways we meet strangers in today’s digital age, we should know if we’re potentially putting our safety at risk.” — Garbo Founder Kathryn Kosmides in a statement.
