news 
Tinder Pilots Facial Recognition Technology in California
Tinder has announced a new pilot program requiring its users in California to verify their profiles using facial recognition technology. The move aims to reduce fraud and promote trust among users on the popular dating app.
The company, owned by Match Group, will now mandate that all California-based users participate in Face Check, a feature powered by FaceTec technology. This process involves scanning users’ faces through a short video recording, which verifies their identity and ensures their profile photos are authentic. The facial recognition data collected during this process is stored for the lifetime of the account but deleted within 30 days after it’s closed.
According to Tinder, the primary goal of Face Check is to confirm that the user is a real person and not a bot or spoofed account. This feature builds upon existing photo verification measures on the app, which users must opt into voluntarily. The facial recognition technology is designed to help prevent “romance scams” where individuals create fake profiles to manipulate others into giving them money.
The announcement comes amid growing concerns over online fraud and deception. In 2023, the U.S. Justice Department reported that more than 64,000 Americans fell victim to romance scams. The Federal Trade Commission and FBI have also warned about the potential dangers of dating apps like Tinder, which can be fertile ground for scammers.
The move is a significant step in ensuring the security and trustworthiness of online interactions on Tinder. In one notorious case documented in the Netflix film “Tinder Swindler,” an individual duped a woman into giving him millions of dollars by creating a fake profile.
While there are no current plans to expand this facial recognition technology beyond California at this time, it’s unclear whether such limitations will be permanent or temporary.
Source: www.cbsnews.com
