South Australia is preparing to introduce Australia’s first laws banning people convicted of domestic violence and sexual offences from using dating apps, amid growing demands for stronger safeguards across the online dating industry.
The proposed measures would place responsibility on offenders rather than relying solely on platforms to identify and remove dangerous users. Those covered by a ban would commit a new offence if they created or maintained a dating profile.
Under the plan, restrictions would last for at least 10 years, with the most serious offenders potentially barred for life. Anyone who breached a ban could face up to five years in prison.
The South Australian Government has confirmed in its 2026-27 budget that it will introduce legislation preventing domestic violence and sexual offenders from using online dating platforms.
South Australia dating app reforms put offenders in the spotlight
Acting premier and Attorney-General Kyam Maher said the proposal was modelled partly on existing laws preventing registered child sex offenders from working with children.
The reforms are expected to cover convictions involving sexual violence, domestic violence and child sex offences, including sexual assault, sexual coercion and certain forms of image-based abuse. The Government is still working on the precise scope of the legislation and how bans would be enforced.
“We want to do it quickly, but we want to make sure we’re covering this as broadly as possible, and getting this as right as possible,” Mr Maher said.
The proposal has been welcomed by Sarah Quick, South Australia’s Commissioner for Victims’ Rights, who acknowledged that the practical and legal challenges would be considerable.
“We have a responsibility to ensure these apps are as safe as possible,” she said, adding that people should be able to use dating services without fearing that their trust would be exploited by known offenders.
Leesa Scanlan, an advocate who has spoken publicly about her experience of coercive control and domestic abuse, said a former partner had used dating platforms to move between victims.
“Seeking connection shouldn’t come at the cost of your safety,” she said.
Research cited by Australia’s eSafety Commissioner found that 72.3 per cent of dating app users surveyed had experienced online sexual harassment, aggression or violence from someone they met through a platform in the previous five years. More than a third said they had experienced sexual harassment, aggression or violence in person.
The proposed South Australian law has also received interest from Match Group, the company behind Tinder, Hinge, Match.com and OkCupid. Mr Maher said the company approached the state Government after seeing its work on online safety reforms.
Match Group has previously said its safety measures include account verification, moderation, in-app reporting and co-operation with police. However, advocates have warned that platform safeguards alone cannot guarantee that a user has no history of violence.
Australia already has a voluntary online dating code covering major services, but the eSafety Commissioner does not have enforcement powers under the scheme. The code requires participating platforms to provide reporting systems and take action when potential online harms are identified.
South Australia also operates a Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme, which allows a person in a current or former intimate relationship to ask police for relevant information about a partner or former partner. Police stress that it is not a general background-check service for someone a user has merely matched with online.
Ms Scanlan said the proposed dating app restrictions should be treated as one part of a wider response, alongside education, early intervention, legal reform and better reporting routes for people who experience abuse.
