USA TODAY -- Dec -- True.com,
a Dallas-based online dating service, began touting its criminal
background checks in July 2004 and wrote proposed legislation that
would force online dating sites to say whether they conduct such
checks. The proposal has been considered in California, Virginia, Ohio,
Texas, Florida and Michigan. In Illinois, state Rep. John
Bradley, D-Marion, says he is having a similar bill drafted that he
intends to introduce in January. "It seems like a common-sense thing,"
he says. "Internet dating isn't the same as going out to a social
gathering. You can meet a large number of people very quickly. There
aren't any types of precautions. ... We have to do as much as we can to
protect people from predators." Match.comsays background checks would add $10 to $15 to the cost of its
three-month membership. herb Vest, CEO of True.com, says
background checks can help the online dating industry's
credibility. In 2004, 4.7 million people subscribed to an online
dating site, says Andrew Peach, research director for Jupiter Research.
"It's going to be better for everyone if the online dating industry is
seen as a safe place," Vest says. True.com says it rejects 5% of
its applicants because of criminal convictions. Vest acknowledges that
True.com's system has holes, but says "I can't promise criminals that
they can't get on" True.com. "But if I find them, they're going to wish
they hadn't." FULL ARTICLE @ USA TODAY