New industry code to protect dating app users

A nation-wide industry code for dating apps detailing how they'll protect users from harm and abuse begins today.

Transcript

00:00These online dating platforms will have six months to comply with this new code of conduct

00:07designed to improve safety for users.

00:10So user safety is a big issue that's being seen.

00:13A 2022 Australian Institute of Criminology report found that three out of four people

00:18who had been surveyed had been subjected to sexual violence on dating apps in the five

00:23years prior.

00:24Now, this code has been in the works since the beginning of last year.

00:27At this stage, it is voluntary before becoming enforceable from April next year.

00:32So the code will require apps to do things like have systems in place to detect potential

00:37incidents of online-enabled harm and also take action against users who are in breach

00:41of those safety policies.

00:43They'll also have to have prominent and transparent ways for people to make reports, and they'll

00:48also have to advise the eSafety Commissioner of how many accounts have been terminated.

00:53They'll have to engage with law enforcement and also escalate threats where there is an

00:57imminent risk to safety.

00:59And the apps will also have a new rating system, which will allow users to see how they stack

01:03up against these new safety regulations.

01:05Now, speaking earlier today, the communications minister, Michelle Rowland, said that the

01:09government is doing what it can to keep users safe.

01:13We know that self-regulation is often the best and quickest form of regulation in innovative

01:19industries.

01:20But at the same time, of course, we have consistently said that if this code does not deliver the

01:25safety benefits that we expect for Australians, then the government will have no hesitation

01:29in imposing direct regulation on this sector.

01:32So what we want here is outcomes.

01:35We want people to continue to experience and to have the freedom to choose of these apps.

01:39But they do need to be made safer.

01:41For now, Gemma, this code of conduct is voluntary, but the eSafety Commissioner will be reviewing

01:45it in 2026 to see if it should be made mandatory.