Tinder and Match are calling on their subscribers to ask senators to pass the Violence Against Women Act.
The bill has been stuck in no-man’s land since house approval was issued and various online dating apps, including OKCupid and Plenty of Fish have asked users to send an email in support of the reauthorization of the VAWA.
The act was originally put in place in 1994 but lapsed in 2019. In an email which Tinder users can fill in, senators are asked to “support efforts to reauthorize this law immediately.”
The act was originally signed by President Bill Clinton on September 13, 1994 and provided $1.6 billion towards investigation and prosecution of violent crimes against women.
It also imposed automatic and mandatory restitution on those people convicted and allowed civil redress if prosecutors decided not to prosecute certain cases.
The bill also provided grants to state and local government so that they could finance programs designed to address the issues around domestic abuse, sexual assault and dating violence plus stalking.
One of the issues preventing the bill’s reinstatement are the restrictions placed on the boyfriends or ex boyfriends of victims.
The bill poses a restriction on gun rights for any man who has been convicted of domestic violence. This would mean that the current law, which only includes spouses or ex-spouses who were convicted of abuse or were under a restraining order, would change to include partners.
The pressure which can be applied by a huge organization such as Match Group which owns Tinder, is not to be underestimated.
Millions of users are now aware of the issue and sending emails daily.
Match Group however, isn’t known for its good record when it comes to equality and caring for women so hopefully this will redress the balance.
Sean Rad, former CEO of Tinder for example was embroiled in a scandal of epic proportions when Whitney Wolfe Herd, his fellow Tinder co-founder, brought a suit against Rad and Mateen for their treatment of her during their time together at Tinder.
Wolfe Herd’s case was settled out of court but included allegations of sexism, verbal abuse and threatening behaviour.
Rad went on to disgrace himself a number of times after this and eventually lost his position as CEO of Tinder.
His reputation has never really recovered whilst Wolfe Herd’s has gone from strength to strength.