Michigan May Require Criminal Background Checks for Online Daters
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James Joyner | Monday, March 28, 2005 |
The AP reports that the Michigan Senate is considering legislation to force online dating companies to certify that they have conducted criminal background checks on its clients.
Michigan May Require Online Dating Checks (AP)
Sandie Cornillie did a double take when she first heard about a bill that would force online dating sites to say whether criminal background checks have been conducted on their members. The 46-year-old divorcee from Portage prefers finding dates on the Internet over visiting the local bar or relying on a friend to play matchmaker. The Web is less intimidating, more convenient and arguably safer, she said. “It’s a very safe way of getting to know someone before we meet face to face,” said Cornillie, who has tried online dating for five years. “I haven’t met any rapists or any crazy people. It’s kind of up to you to be careful.”
Some lawmakers, though, say that as online dating becomes more popular, users need better protection from predators. Twenty-six million people visited dating sites in January, according to the Internet research firm Nielsen/NetRatings.
The Senate is considering legislation that would require an Internet dating company serving Michigan residents to disclose on its Web site whether it has conducted criminal background checks on users, based solely on the names provided. A provider also would have to disclose the limitations of background checks and urge members to adhere to safe dating practices. Republican Sen. Alan Cropsey of DeWitt is sponsoring the bill. “There are inherent dangers in the whole area of the Internet,” he said. “Something needs to be done.”
There are inherent dangers to a lot of things. Are they going to require that the owners of singles bars and other venues where singles hook up with people they barely know conduct background checks, too?
About the Author: James Joyner is the publisher of Outside the Beltway and the managing editor of the Atlantic Council. He's a former Army officer, Desert Storm vet, and college professor with a PhD in political science from The University of Alabama. He lives just outside the Beltway in Alexandria, Virginia with his wife and infant daughter.
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Shoot, half the office in the city of chicago are meat markets ... we'll have to get criminal background checks to apply for a job.
You know, I heard a story about this recently. It appears that one of the online dating services (not e-harmony, but I think it was match.com) already does background checks, and the owner was pushing states to adopt legislation to make other services do what he already does.
From a business standpoint, you would think you would do this anyway. I don't know that it needs a state mandate though.
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