Dennis RomeroHas your dating site served you up a heaping plate of loser or, worse, a straight-up perv?
California Attorney General Kamala Harris is coming to the rescue. Today she announced a deal with three big dating websites, eHarmony, Match.com and Spark Networks (home of JDate and ChristianMingle) that will have them kick out anyone who's a sex offender.
Darn. Here's the deal:
From now on the sites will screen users (losers?) to see if they're on national sex offender databases. If they are, they're out. The services will also have to set up quick-and-easy systems for reporting creeps.
What's more, according to a statement from Harris' office:
The websites will also continue to proactively educate members about safe online dating practices, and will supply members with online safety tips, including fraud prevention guidance and tips for safely meeting people offline. These tips and financial scam warnings will be issued on an ongoing basis to registered members.
Harris says:
Aw. A photo from eHarmony's Facebook page.
Consumers should be able to use websites without the fear of being scammed or targeted. It is a priority for this office to ensure consumers are protected online, and companies who are creating in the Internet space have a continued opportunity to innovate and thrive.
Of course, she just opened a whole new business opportunity for sites that cater to weirdos and potential sex criminals. Oh, wait, one already exists. It's called Craigslist.
[@dennisjromero / djromero@laweekly.com / @LAWeeklyNews]
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