Online Dating Gets Safer: Tinder Rolls Out Mandatory Face Scans
Tinder has taken a significant step toward improving trust and safety on its platform by requiring new users in California to verify their identity using facial recognition technology. The move is part of the company’s broader strategy to reduce fake accounts, impersonation, and catfishing.
📸 How Does the Face Check Feature Work?
When signing up, new users are asked to record a short video selfie. This video is analyzed using FaceTec’s biometric scanning technology to confirm that the person is real and actively present during registration.
After verification:
- The original video is deleted.
- An encrypted, non-reversible “face map” is stored securely.
- This face map helps detect future attempts at creating fake or duplicate profiles.
The system also checks whether the same face appears across multiple Tinder accounts.
🌍 Already Tested in Other Countries
According to Axios, Tinder has already tested this feature in countries like Colombia and Canada, where it reportedly helped reduce fraudulent activity and improved user confidence.
These early tests showed promising results, encouraging the company to now expand the trial to one of the largest U.S. markets — California.
⚖️ Legal Background: FaceTec and Biometric Data Laws
FaceTec, the company behind the facial recognition tech used by Tinder, was previously involved in a legal dispute in Illinois over the state’s Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA). The lawsuit accused the company of collecting biometric data without proper consent.
However, FaceTec was eventually dismissed from the case, as courts ruled that the company only provides the software — and not the ones directly handling or storing user data.
👥 Monitoring User Feedback Before Wider Rollout
Yoel Roth, Match Group’s Head of Trust and Safety, confirmed that Tinder will be closely watching how users respond to the change in California. Based on feedback and results, the company may consider expanding facial recognition verification to other states or even globally.
📏 Bonus Update: Tinder Testing Height Preference Filter
In related news, Tinder is also experimenting with a new filter that allows some subscribers to set a preferred height range when browsing profiles. What once seemed like a joke is now becoming a potential reality — showing how seriously the app is taking user preferences.