Investigation: Match Group dating app AI systems fail to detect rapists

An 18-month investigation found that Match Group, the owner of major dating apps like Tinder and Hinge, knowingly allowed users repeatedly reported for sexual violence to remain active on its platforms for years, demonstrating a catastrophic failure in its safety protocols and a deliberate lack of transparency that endangered millions of users. What happened An investigation by The Markup uncovered that systems used by Match Group, owner of popular dating apps Tinder and Hinge, to keep sexual predators off its platforms are ineffective. The investigation found that Match Group maintains records of users accused of sexual assault but does not implement adequate measures to remove these individuals from their platforms or inform law enforcement. The investigation also found that Match Group has been aware of users accused of drugging, assaulting or raping dates since at least 2016. In one case, Denver cardiologist Stephen Matthews was reported multiple times for rape on Hinge but remained active on the app and was even highlighted as a "Standout" profile. In October 2024, Matthews was jailed for 158 years for drugging and sexually assaulting women he had met on dating apps. Why it happened The incident occurred due to Match Group's lack of effective systems to keep bad actors off the apps, and poor transparency. Th e company's loosely defined procedures force employees to rely on their own judgement when handling reports of sexual assault. Additionally, Match Group has not published its promised Transparency Report for the United States, despite announcing its commitment to do so in 2020. What it means For those directly impacted, this failure to address sexual assault reports puts users at risk of encountering known predators on dating apps. Victims often have to persistently contact the companies to take action, and in some cases, their reports are ignored or dismissed. For society, this incident highlights the need for greater accountability and regulation of dating apps to protect users from sexual predators. It also raises broader questions about the responsibility of tech companies in preventing and responding to sexual violence facilitated through their platforms. System 🤖 Sentinel Developer: Match Group Country: USA Sector: Media/entertainment/sports/arts Purpose: Detect sex offenders Technology: Machine learning Issue: Accountability; Accuracy/reliability; Safety; Transparency Investigations, assessments, audits 👁️ The Markup. Dating App Cover-Up: How Tinder, Hinge, and Their Corporate Owner Keep Rape Under Wraps

Date it happened

2025-02-01

Organisation involved

Hinge; Tinder

Product, system or model

Sentinel

This is a record of what was reported, not a finding that anyone broke the law. If it names your organisation and you believe it is wrong, the corrections process is free and open to everyone.