The Online Dating Safety Act, sponsored by U.S. Rep. David Valadao (R-CA), passed the U.S. House of Representatives on Monday and now advances to the U.S. Senate for consideration.
“The Online Dating Safety Act is an important step to enhance online safety, combat fraud, and help people make more informed decisions,” Rep. Valadao said. “I look forward to working with my Senate colleagues to get this bill across the finish line.”
H.R. 6125, which U.S. Rep. Brittany Pettersen (D-CO) cosponsored in October 2023 alongside Rep. Valadao, would require dating apps and services to issue fraud ban notifications to users who have interacted with a person removed from the app.
Such romance scams, according to the Federal Trade Commission, resulted in victims losing $1.3 billion in 2022.
“With more and more people using online dating services, there are a number of bad actors who use these platforms to commit fraud,” said Rep. Valadao. “These apps have been around for over 10 years, but still there are little safeguards in place to protect users.”
The U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee approved H.R. 6125 in December 2023 before sending it to the full chamber for action.
“As Americans increasingly use online dating services, con artists are attempting to prey on people searching for companionship, particularly seniors,” said House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA). “I commend Rep. Valadao for his leadership on this bill to give adults of every age the information they need to protect themselves from romance scams online.”
Rep. Pettersen added that notifying users if they have been in contact with a potential scammer is a basic security feature that every online dating service should provide.
“Online dating services are being used as a platform for bad actors to target and exploit individuals, yet protections continue to lag behind,” she said. “This bipartisan bill will help reduce online crime and keep people safe from online scammers.”