State and federal governments unite to take action on dating apps’ lax security measures

Dangerous dating apps will be under the spotlight as governments unite for a summit on ‘urgent action’ to reform platforms’ lax security measures in the wake of another woman losing her life.

Dangerous dating apps will be under the spotlight as the state and federal governments unite for a summit on “urgent action” to reform the platforms’ lax security measures after another woman lost her life.

The bipartisan action comes a day after The Daily Telegraph launched its Swipe Them Out campaign, which featured extensive calls from leading experts to find ways to ban violent criminals from accessing unassuming victims on the popular dating platforms.

Minister for Women Bronnie Taylor wrote to federal Communications Minister Michelle Rowland calling on the federal government to join in “taking urgent action to address the issue of women’s safety on dating apps”.

The joint venture will be facilitated by Ms Rowland after NSW called for federal leadership on the national issue.

Ms Rowland supports the plan to meet in January alongside peak bodies, advocates and politicians to address the lack of security and verification on dating apps like Tinder, Bumble and Hinge after police confirmed that Sydney teacher Dannielle Finlay-Jones met her alleged killer Ashley Gaddie on a dating app.

Dannielle Finlay-Jones met her alleged killer Ashley Gaddie on a dating app. Picture: Facebook

“This is not the first time a tragedy of this nature has (allegedly) occurred,” the letter from Ms Taylor said.

“I note there have been extensive calls from peak bodies for reforms that improve safety and strengthen protections for users of dating apps.

“We have an obligation to do everything in our power to ensure tragedies like this never happen again, and the NSW Government is taking action now.

“Effective action will require a national response, led by the Federal Government, supported by the states and territories, and put into action by dating app businesses.

“That is why I am seeking your support and leadership without delay.

“NSW is willing to take the important first step, however we cannot do it alone.”

 

Ms Taylor called for the proposed roundtable to identify potential policies and actions for keeping people safe when they used dating apps

A spokesman for Ms Rowland said the meeting would see “both levels of government address this important issue”.

“The Albanese government will focus on identifying gaps in the regulatory framework and taking a collaborative, outcomes-focused approach that draws on industry knowledge as well as those with lived experience, such as police, domestic violence experts and victim-survivors.”

Crime Stoppers boss Peter Price has thrown his support behind the idea and asked for a seat at the table.

“What we’ve had in the last 10 to 15 years, we have had two paths running parallel — the real world and the online digital world, but in the more recent times, these two worlds are combining,” he said.

“The problem we are facing is the procedures and security measures in the real world have never applied to the online world, so we are seeing deterioration in the online environment and that is putting more people in harm’s way.”

Crime Stoppers CEO and director Peter Price.

NSW Minister for Women Bronnie Taylor.

Mr Price said Crime Stoppers and law enforcement should be everywhere people are — and in 2022, there was no denying that Australians actively use dating apps.

“If someone goes into a pub wielding an axe, they will not be allowed in because there will be security, but in the online world there is no safety, it’s just not good enough,” he said.

Labor deputy leader Prue Car met her fiance on popular app Bumble.

Ms Car said the issue of dating app safety had been ignored by regulators for too long.

“It gives me chills because people have a right to be able to meet other people and not be unsafe, like you think about our children, I can’t imagine where they go into a bar and meet someone,” she said.

“We need to listen to the experts … surely if someone is dangerous and you are connecting with them online, you have a right to know that.

“There was a period of time when people who made decisions about these things had come from a different world … whereas it’s just the way people are meeting now.”

Labor deputy leader Prue Car and her fiance partner Brad Hulls with dog Flash. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Commenting on Dannielle Finlay-Jones, a spokesman for dating app Tinder said: “We can confirm that the victim and the alleged offender did not match on Tinder.

“We are working with local law enforcement to provide any information to them that will be helpful for their investigation.

“Tinder approaches all concerning reports relative to member safety with the utmost urgency and we take appropriate actions toward bad behaviour by removing and blocking accounts across our platform.”

Mr Gaddie was confirmed to have had a Tinder account.

Bumble was contacted for a response.

VICTIM’S TINDER WARNING

Aussie businesswoman Karen Sadler has a warning for young women using dating apps, after her “charming” Tinder date left her with horrifying injuries.

“I never thought that something like this would ever happen to me,” Ms Sadler, 52, said on Thursday.

She reported the attack to Tinder, but four years later she is still waiting to hear back from them. Her attacker was arrested and charged with assault.

Karen Sadler suffered a concussion and black eye after she was attacked on a Tinder date.

She wants to warn others about the potential dangers of using online dating apps.

“I don’t think a lot of young girls realise that when you think you are just scrolling through dating apps, you are really putting so much of your life out there and you are very vulnerable,” she said.

Ms Sadler, now working as a sales consultant in Perth, is backing The Telegraph’s campaign to force dating apps to take more responsibility.

“I reported the man but Tinder never got back to me,” Ms Sadler said.

“People told me to forget about it but I couldn’t because I could have been blinded and no one gets away with hitting someone for no reason.”

She was holidaying on the Spanish island of Ibiza when she swiped right on “Alain”, whose profile said he was a lawyer and businessman who had lived on three continents and had a five-year-old daughter in his care.

They chatted before meeting up for dinner and Ms Sadler thought him generous and professional. They went back to his holiday villa and all went well until she called for a taxi to go home and he “turned from Dr Jekyll to Mr Hyde”.

With no warning, he violently attacked her, punching her in the head with a hit that knocked her out. She fell down a flight of stairs.

“It came out of left field,” she said.

It was witnessed by the taxi driver waiting for her who took her to hospital.

“Alain” was arrested by police and the criminal case is still going through the courts.

Ms Sadler has also launched a civil case against him.

“I can’t say that Tinder is all bad. People have met wonderful people on dating sites,” she said.

“But you are putting your life at risk.

“Something needs to be done to make these sites safer.”

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