THE GUARDIAN – Match Group has knowingly allowed sexual predators to continue using its platforms despite multiple reports of assault. A Denver cardiologist, Stephen Matthews, was reported for rape at least 15 times yet remained active on Hinge and other Match-owned apps for years. He was only removed after his arrest in 2023 and later sentenced to 158 years in prison. Internal documents show that Match Group has tracked reports of rape and assault since 2016 but failed to act effectively or inform users. Their Sentinel system, designed to block banned users, was found to be easily bypassed. Despite promising a transparency report in 2020, the company never released it. Match Group responded to the investigation by stating that it is committed to safety, using AI tools, ID verification, and law enforcement partnerships. However, independent tests showed that banned users, including those reported for sexual assault, could easily rejoin the platform. In recent years, Match Group cut its internal safety team, outsourced moderation, and prioritized growth, leading to increased scrutiny from lawmakers.
by Emily Elena Dugdale & Hanisha Harjani
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