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Dating Apps Sued Over "Accommodating Rapists"
16 Dec
Summary
- Six women claim dating apps facilitated sexual assaults.
- Lawsuit alleges Match Group was negligent and product is defective.
- Cardiologist perpetrator received 158 years to life in prison.
Six women who were drugged and sexually assaulted by a Denver cardiologist have filed a lawsuit against Match Group, accusing the dating app conglomerate of negligence. The plaintiffs contend that Match Group's platforms, including Tinder and Hinge, have a "defective" product that allegedly facilitates sexual predators by allowing known abusers to remain active.
The lawsuit details how the accused cardiologist, Stephen Matthews, continued to assault women on Hinge even after being reported multiple times. Despite Match Group claiming to have permanently banned him, he remained on the platform and was even promoted as a "standout" match. Matthews was later convicted of 35 counts and sentenced to 158 years to life in prison.
Legal experts note the lawsuit faces challenges due to Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which generally shields online platforms from liability for user-generated content. Match Group has stated it is enhancing safety features, including AI moderation and ID verification, though reports indicate a scaling back of trust and safety teams.
