Letter to Joseph J. Simmons, Chairman of The Federal Trade Commission - Rep. Curtis Celebrates Valentine's Day with Letter to FTC on Online Dating Safety
Letter
Dear Chairman Simons,
Today I am requesting more information about the Federal Trade Commission's role in protecting the safety of dating application users. This follows reports about insufficient security protocols that permit sexual predators to use these sites.
According to an investigation released in December 2019, about 10 percent of sexual assaults occurring on these platforms are committed by registered sex offenders. Some victims -- who were assaulted after meeting people on the applications -- reportedly saw their attackers on the sites even after filing complaints against these offenders.
Company representatives have indicated they do not screen for sex offenders because they lack reliable information to conduct comprehensive background checks. I understand expending resources on background checks for millions of users would be costly, but keeping users safe as these user-to-user technologies evolve must remain a top priority.
I am requesting more information on how the federal government is currently assisting these companies to uphold the integrity of their platforms and protect their users. Please kindly provide written responses to the following questions at your earliest convenience:
1. Are you aware of some of these issues? If so, what steps are you taking to help these companies protect users from bad actors?
2. Are you working with law enforcement agencies to ensure these companies have more reliable information to keep prior offenders off of their platforms? Do you think there are administrative improvements that can be made to keep users safe?
3. What can Congress do to enhance your work?
Thanks again for your attention to this matter. It is not my intention to place more regulatory restraints on these companies. Rather, it is my hope the federal government can work in partnership with their developers to create a safe and thriving online dating community. I look forward to working toward this objective with you.
Sincerely,
John R. Curtis
Member of Congress
District 3, Utah
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