Government Regulation
US government regulation of dating services began with the International Marriage Broker Regulation Act (IMBRA) which took effect in March 2007 after a federal judge in Georgia upheld a challenge from the dating site European Connections. The law requires internationally oriented dating services to conduct, among other procedures, sex offender checks on US customers before communication can occur with a foreigner.
Singapore's government has actively acted as a matchmaker for singles for the past few decades, and thus only 4 percent of Singaporeans have ever used an online dating service, despite the country’s high rate of internet penetration. Singapore's Social Development Network is the governmental organization facilitating dating activities in the country.
New Jersey became the first state to enact a law requiring the sites to disclose whether they perform background checks.
There are several sites that already offer the option for users to request background checks including True.com. Match.com is now offering screenings for sex offenders to their users.
Read more about this topic: Online Dating Service
Famous quotes containing the words government and/or regulation:
“Frankly, I’d like to see the government get out of war altogether and leave the whole field to private industry.”
—Joseph Heller (b. 1923)
“Lots of white people think black people are stupid. They are stupid themselves for thinking so, but regulation will not make them smarter.”
—Stephen Carter (b. 1954)