Background Checks for Online Dating Sites

Once upon a time Corra Group conducted a lot more background checks for people interesting in dating and for online dating site.   We were often approached by owners of nascent dating sites who wanted us toe provide us with criminal records background checks.  There often promises of huge volume in background checks as the hopeful principles of the new online dating service would corner their fair share of the market.

In fact, Corra Group started conducting dating related background checks when female friends of ours, women of means and position, urged us to do so as they were single and dating and wanted to be sure their next paramour wasn’t some gold digging predator or an ax murderer.    Of course, these hopeful romantics would decide, despite all admonitions to the contrary to go and see their new soul mate anyway, sans the precautionary background check.

Why was this?  Well, there is reality and there is reality.  One reality says that on this online dating site you will find your soul mate, the love of your life.  On the other hand when you are being promised happily ever after, it is difficult for the company offering this wonderful prospect to turn around and say, but just in case he is a sex offender, ax murder, or gold digger, you better run a background check on your new paramour, just to be sure.   So there was the contradiction.

But now it seems most online dating sites are offering background checks.   Somehow the veil has been pierced and while the online dating sites and offer you the lover of your dreams they can in turn offer you the background check to protect yourself against predators.  Interesting.  Obviously there is the potential for additional revenue.  But then there are the legal and liability issues.  Suppose the online dating site does hook you up with that ax murder?  Then what?

The New York Times recently featured an article about dating sites that are now offering background checks.  I found the article most interesting.  I also found that many sites deemed these criminal background checks advisable  if not essential. for dating members to protect themselves.   Perhaps it is a sign of the times or a testament to our economy that tough economic conditions cause increase in violence and predatory activity.

Whether or not this is a beginning of a large controversy or an effort for the powers that be to protect people from each other remains to be seen.  Meanwhile, we will keep an eye on it.