Serious domestic violence and sexual offenders would be barred from using online dating platforms under a proposal announced by the Malinauskas Government ahead of the South Australian election.
The plan would impose a default ban of at least 10 years for offenders, with the possibility of a lifetime ban for the most serious cases. Anyone found breaching the restriction could face a penalty of up to five years in prison.
More than three million Australians, including about 200,000 South Australians, use online dating platforms at any given time. Authorities say identity verification remains limited across many services, creating opportunities for offenders to conceal their identities.
Premier Peter Malinauskas said the government wanted to ensure people could use dating platforms with confidence.
“Dating apps are a part of modern life.
Those using online dating services deserve to do so with confidence.
But disturbingly, online dating services can also be used by sex offenders to meet and target women.
These disgusting criminals do not deserve the privilege of using a dating site.
We are taking to this election a plan to ban them.
This would be yet another world leading reform, building upon our international success in implementing a social media ban for children.”
A study by the Australian Institute of Criminology found nearly three quarters of Australians using dating apps, 72.3 per cent, reported experiencing online sexual harassment, aggression or violence from someone they met through a dating platform within the past five years.
Attorney-General Kyam Maher said the proposal aimed to ensure the law kept pace with technological change.
“Under SA Labor, South Australia has led the way in world-leading reforms like banning children from social media. We know that as technology changes the way we interact, we need to make sure our laws are keeping pace. That is exactly why this reform is needed.
This world-leading reform makes it clear – if you are a domestic violence or sexual predator, you will be banned from using dating apps and face jail for up to 5 years if you break these laws.
We are serious about protecting South Australians from abuse, and this reform will continue the strong line of work we’ve already undertaken this term to protect the community by cracking down on sex offenders and tackling domestic, family and sexual violence.”
The proposal builds on a series of measures introduced during the government’s current term, including indefinite detention for repeat child sex offenders, the creation of a public child sex offender register and laws criminalising coercive control.
Further steps have included mandatory home detention and electronic monitoring for serious domestic violence offenders who breach intervention orders, alongside $674 million allocated in response to the Royal Commission into Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence.
Minister for Women and the Prevention of Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Katrine Hildyard said stronger protections were necessary.
“The prevalence of sexual violence, including online, is horrific. Women deserve to feel and be safe in every space they are in and children should always be protected from all forms of abuse and violence and empowered to thrive.
The Malinauskas Labor Government has been utterly relentless in progressing and investing in reform to deal with vile predators who seek to harm women and children.”
Match Group, which operates several major dating platforms, welcomed the proposal.
Yoel Roth, Senior Vice President of Trust & Safety at the company, said: “Match Group strongly welcomes the announcement by the South Australian Attorney-General that a re-elected Malinauskas Government would bar serious sex and domestic offenders from online dating. There is no place on our platforms for anyone who could pose a risk to user safety, and clear legal accountability will act as a powerful deterrent.
This reform will be a critical step toward safer online dating and aligns with our ongoing focus on protection and prevention, supported by layered account verification, proactive moderation, easy-to-use in-app reporting, swift enforcement, and cooperation with law enforcement.”
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