ODA – Feb 10 – The Online Dating Association (ODA: www.onlinedatingassociation.org.uk) is launching a "Safety First" campaign in the UK and US to promote best practices. The campaign recommends how they could encourage their users to behave and is supported by leading internet safety, fraud prevention and law enforcement bodies including the Date Safe group of law enforcers, UK Finance, Get Safe Online, and dating operators including The Meet Group and leading US service providers. The ODA is looking to expand its membership.
George Kidd, CEO of the ODA, said: "Our Safety First initiative provides tools that any and every service can use to review and, if possible, improve their arrangements. …It is time to be up-front with users about expected and unacceptable behaviour online."
Fred Beckley, General Counsel and EVP Business Affairs at The Meet Group, said: "…by bringing together law enforcement, fraud prevention agencies and corporations, the Safety First campaign creates a powerful force to influence safety standards."
Katy Worobec, Managing Director of Economic Crime, UK Finance, said: "This important initiative will help online dating providers protect their users from romance scams, working together with law enforcement and the banking and finance industry. …If you think you may have fallen victim to a romance scam, contact your bank straight away and report it to Action Fraud."
The Safety First campaign includes a "Framework for User Safety", which seeks to promote best practice among service providers, and the "Model Code of User Conduct" which outlines how users should behave.
