House panel approves bill setting guardrails for dating apps
Christopher Hutton
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A bill that would require online dating apps to inform users of contact with fraudulent profile advanced through committee Thursday, bringing it close to a vote in the House of Representatives.
The Online Dating Safety Act was marked up by the House Energy and Commerce Committee on Thursday. The bill, reintroduced by Rep. David Valadao (R-CA) in September, would require dating apps like Tinder, Bumble, and eHarmony to inform users if they spoke with members who were previously removed from the platform due to violating terms of service.
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“It is alarmingly easy for predators online to manipulate innocent people, and the Online Dating Safety Act is an important step to help people make informed decisions about who they’re really talking to online,” Valadao said in a statement.
The bill is designed to fight off dating app fraud and is inspired by men like Simon Leviev, also known as the “Tinder Swindler.” Leviev defrauded women over the platform by getting them to loan him money.
The bill will now be eligible for a floor vote, although it is unclear if that vote will come up this term.
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The Online Dating Safety Act was just one of a number of other technology-focused bills presented by the panel. The committee considered the Consumer Safety Technology Act, which will have the Consumer Product Safety Commission investigate how it can use artificial intelligence in its work. It also considered the REPAIR Act, which would require auto manufacturers to provide access to the repair tools and information needed to fix most vehicles without going to company-controlled auto shops.
Editor’s Note: An earlier version of this report said that the Online Dating Safety Act included a requirement for ID verification. The provision was removed from the version of the bill that advanced Thursday. The Washington Examiner regrets the error.