# Australia's Digital Duty of Care Pushes Dating Apps to Prioritize User Safety _Australia's proposed Digital Duty of Care mandates dating apps to mitigate risks. With 99% of women facing harm, founders must enhance safety measures._ Source: https://highintentmedia.com/news/australia-duty-of-care-dating-apps Author: High Intent Newsroom Published: 2026-09-22T09:15:31+00:00 Last updated: 2026-09-22T09:55:29.756728+00:00 Category: Policy ## Summary Australia is proposing a Digital Duty of Care, a legal requirement for dating apps to proactively identify and reduce serious harm risks. This follows research showing 99% of women experienced harm on dating apps. The legislation, expected in October, shifts responsibility from users to platforms, compelling dating businesses to implement systemic safety changes or face legal obligations. ## Key takeaways - Australia's proposed Digital Duty of Care will legally mandate dating apps to mitigate user harm. - This legislation requires platforms to proactively identify and reduce risks, not just react to reports. - 99% of women in a recent study reported experiencing harm on dating apps in three months. - The new law aims to shift safety responsibility from users to dating platforms. - Legislation is expected in parliament by October, with a consultation closing September 22. ## FAQ ### What is Australia's proposed Digital Duty of Care for dating apps? Australia's proposed Digital Duty of Care is a legal requirement for dating apps to identify and reduce foreseeable risks of serious harm to users. It mandates platforms to proactively mitigate risks rather than solely relying on user reports, shifting safety responsibility from users to the platforms themselves. ### Why is Australia implementing a Digital Duty of Care for dating apps? Australia is implementing this due to alarming research showing 99% of 1,008 heterosexual women experienced at least one harmful behavior on dating apps in the previous three months. The current voluntary code and user reporting are deemed insufficient to protect users effectively, prompting a need for legal enforcement. ### When is the Digital Duty of Care expected to become law in Australia? The consultation period for the Digital Duty of Care closes on September 22. Legislation is expected to be introduced to parliament in October. This timeline suggests rapid progression from proposal to potential legal requirement for dating apps in Australia. ### What impact will the Digital Duty of Care have on dating app operations? The Digital Duty of Care will compel dating apps to implement systemic changes to their design, moderation, and safety features. Platforms will need to build risk identification and mitigation into their core operations, potentially requiring enhanced verification, improved AI content moderation, and more robust intervention mechanisms. ### Are major dating apps already addressing safety concerns in Australia? Major platforms, including Tinder, Hinge, and Bumble, have signed Australia's Voluntary Online Dating Code introduced in October 2024, committing to measures around reporting, moderation, and user safety. However, this code is voluntary, and the new Digital Duty of Care aims to make these safety efforts a legal obligation. - Australia is proposing a Digital Duty of Care that would legally require dating apps to identify and reduce foreseeable risks of serious harm to users - Research involving 1,008 heterosexual women found 99% experienced at least one harmful behavior on dating apps in the previous three months - The proposed legislation follows a Voluntary Online Dating Code introduced in October 2024, which major platforms including Tinder, Hinge, and Bumble have signed - The consultation period closes on 22 September, with legislation expected to be introduced to parliament in October Australia is taking significant steps to address safety concerns on dating platforms through proposed legislation that would shift responsibility from users to the platforms themselves. The Digital Duty of Care would require dating apps to proactively identify and mitigate risks rather than simply responding to user reports. This move comes amid alarming research showing nearly all women have experienced harmful behavior on dating apps. ## From Voluntary Measures to Legal Requirements Australia already has a Voluntary Online Dating Code, introduced in October 2024 following a government-led push to improve safety on dating platforms. Signatories include Tinder, Hinge, Match, Plenty of Fish, Bumble, Grindr, eharmony, MeetMe and several other dating services. Companies that sign up commit to measures around reporting, moderation and user safety. However, the code is voluntary rather than legally enforced. The government is now proposing a Digital Duty of Care as part of changes to Australia's Online Safety Act. An exposure draft was released on 8 September 2026. The proposal would require online services, including dating apps, to identify and reduce foreseeable risks of serious harm. The consultation period closes today (22 September), and legislation is expected to be introduced to parliament in October. Person using dating app on smartphone ## Alarming Research Findings on Dating App Safety The proposal comes alongside new research into women's experiences on dating apps in Australia. A study of 1,008 heterosexual women found that 99% had experienced at least one harmful behaviour on a dating app in the previous three months. Some 95% reported psychological or emotional harm, while 89% experienced monitoring or surveillance. > Almost six in ten reported fear-based controlling behaviour, including threats of physical harm. Only around 22% of those women reported the threats to the platforms. The research, published by the BIT Study, reveals a significant gap between the prevalence of harmful behavior and user reporting. This disconnect highlights the inadequacy of relying solely on user-initiated reporting systems. The low reporting rate suggests that many women either lack confidence in platform responses or feel the reporting process is too burdensome. Concerned woman looking at phone screen ## Shifting Responsibility to Platforms The research argues that users should not be expected to manage these risks alone. Under the proposed duty, dating platforms would have greater responsibility for identifying risks and addressing them before users report an incident. This proactive approach represents a fundamental shift in how online safety is conceptualized and enforced. > Under the proposed duty, dating platforms would have greater responsibility for identifying risks and addressing them before users report an incident. The Digital Duty of Care framework would compel platforms to implement systemic changes to their design, moderation, and safety features. Rather than treating safety as an add-on feature, platforms would need to build risk identification and mitigation into their core operations. This could include enhanced verification systems, improved AI-based content moderation, and more robust intervention mechanisms when threatening behavior is detected. Online safety and digital protection concept - The proposed legislation represents a fundamental shift from reactive to proactive safety measures, requiring platforms to identify and address risks before harm occurs rather than waiting for user reports - With 99% of women experiencing harmful behavior but only 22% reporting it, the current voluntary system and user-driven reporting mechanisms are proving insufficient to protect dating app users - The Digital Duty of Care would transform safety from an optional feature to a legal obligation, potentially setting a precedent for how online platforms worldwide approach user protection ## Sources - [BIT Study](https://www.bi.team/publications/understanding-tech-based-abuse-of-women-on-dating-platforms/), Bi Published by High Intent (High Intent Media Inc). Citation permitted with a link to the source URL above.