Australia's Digital Duty of Care Pushes Dating Apps to Prioritize User Safety

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.

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.

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.