Popular dating app Tinder is doubling down on its identity verification requirements amid the rise in dating-app scams partly fueled by AI.
Recent findings reported by Bloomberg revealed that scammers have been using AI to generate fake dating profiles on different platforms, including Tinder. With such profiles, scammers dupe unsuspecting users into sending them cash or cryptocurrency in a scheme known as pig butchering or romance scam.
Tinder’s ID Check Puts Online Love on Trial
In response, Tinder announced Tuesday it would roll out ID Verification to users across the US, the UK, Brazil, and Mexico in the coming quarters.
The company said ID Verification was first launched in Japan in 2019 and has used the learnings from that market to inform this decision.
While ID verification might seem like a solution to fake profiles, it’s not a simple fix. Sharing sensitive personal information raises privacy concerns. Users would have to worry about data breaches, misuse, and even government surveillance.
Discussions around ID verification are usually complex and touch on sensitive issues. Not everyone would want to share their real-life identity information, especially with an online platform. However, Tinder said the soon-to-be-launched feature is more of a “critical safety project.”
Does Tinder’s ID Verification Demand Too Much?
“We know one of the most valuable things Tinder can do to make members feel safe is to give them more confidence that their matches are authentic and more control over who they interact with,” Tinder said.
The new ID feature will reportedly require users to submit a valid driver’s license or passport along with a self-recorded video. Also, the birth date of the user would have to be confirmed to ensure that it tallies with the information on the individual’s profile photos and ID.
Elsewhere, reports noted that the company had already trialled the feature with users in Australia and New Zealand. Interestingly, verified users saw a remarkable 67% increase in matches compared to non-verified users.
