Crime check flagged for domestic violence offender on dating app following alleged murder of Daniel Finlay Jones
Australia’s eSafety watchdog calls on dating apps to step up safety as the NSW government warns of a crackdown on platform abuse.
Key Point:
- Police investigating whether Sydney woman met Ashley Guddy online
- New South Wales government flags changes to online safety law following murder allegations
- The dating app currently being implemented is checking cooperation with children
Dating app safety is under scrutiny following the alleged murder of Daniel Finlay Jones.
Ashley Guddy was charged with murder Wednesday.
Police are investigating whether she met him online when he was serving a community correction order for a previous domestic violence offense.
The NSW government has flagged changes to the Online Safety Act to scrutinize people using dating apps.
He will likely ask the federal government to join the push, arguing that it is a national issue.
“I think industry experts need to come together. We need to talk to other experts in the field, such as the eSafety Commissioner, and come up with some recommendations,” said Women’s Minister Bronnie Taylor.
eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said while acknowledging “some positive steps”, dating platforms “have more to do to ensure their platforms are safe.”
“This includes responding promptly to reports of online harassment and image-based harassment, and preventing users removed for predatory online behavior from reappearing on the site with new accounts or aliases. “This includes taking proactive steps to
Since 2019, eSafety has been in talks with dating platforms to push for stronger safeguards for their apps.
Regulating online platforms has proved difficult in the past, but Elisabeth Shaw, CEO of Relationships Australia, dismissed suggestions that reform would be too difficult.
“There are similarities to the ‘Working with Children Check’ that could have been done, but there is absolutely no reason why a dating app company owner could not do the same.
“I think companies have a social responsibility to look at the unintended consequences of their commercial actions, and there are some very serious consequences that need to be taken into account.”
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-12-22/background-and-criminal-checks-flagged-for-dating-apps/101803688 Crime check flagged for domestic violence offender on dating app following alleged murder of Daniel Finlay Jones