A woman from Gloucestershire is spearheading a campaign to overhaul safety regulations for online dating platforms, following a personal experience of abuse she alleges occurred after meeting a partner through an app. Heather Richardson, from the Forest of Dean, began using dating apps two years ago after the end of a long-term relationship. Her experience has led her to identify what she describes as "huge gaps in online dating safety" and a pressing need for reform.
Ms Richardson is advocating for a significant shift in legislation, calling for dating apps operating in the UK to implement mandatory government-issued ID verification for all users. Crucially, she also seeks to prevent individuals with convictions for serious offences, including domestic abuse, stalking, coercive control, and serious sexual or violent crimes, from creating accounts on these platforms. Her proposals extend to improving existing reporting systems and enhancing accountability for the companies behind these apps, asserting that "People that have committed serious crimes can access dating apps and pick out their next victims."
The Suzy Lamplugh Trust, a charity focused on personal safety, has voiced its support for moves to better identify perpetrators using online platforms. Saskia Garner, head of policy and campaigns at the Trust, emphasised the importance of apps taking user concerns and reports seriously to prevent offenders from continuing to exploit the platforms. Ms Garner highlighted the need for greater information sharing across different apps, acknowledging that many perpetrators create multiple fake accounts. She added that the technology to better identify these individuals already exists.
The Online Dating and Discovery Association (ODDA), the trade body representing many prominent dating apps, acknowledges the prevalence of inappropriate behaviour online, including within dating environments. Simon Newman, the chief executive, stated that some apps already share information regarding offenders and individuals who have demonstrated harmful behaviour. He also revealed that the ODDA has been in discussions with the government about extending Clare's Law – which gives individuals the 'right to ask' and 'right to know' about a partner's abusive past – to users on dating apps. Additionally, the ODDA has proposed imposing pre and post-bail charge conditions that would prohibit individuals arrested or charged with violent, stalking, or even fraud offences from accessing dating apps.
The proposed changes reflect a growing concern about user safety in the rapidly expanding online dating sector. While apps offer convenience and wider social connections, the anonymous or semi-anonymous nature of some platforms can be exploited. The push for mandatory ID verification and clearer restrictions for convicted offenders aims to mitigate these risks, potentially transforming how millions of UK users interact with online dating services.