Lawsuit Filed Against Match Group Over Allegations of Negligence in Dating App Safety

A civil lawsuit has been filed against Match Group, the parent company of popular dating apps Hinge and Tinder, by six women who allege they were drugged and raped by Dr. Stephen Matthews, a Denver cardiologist. The lawsuit, filed in Denver district court, accuses Match Group of negligence and maintaining a "defective" product that allowed known predators to remain active on its platforms. The plaintiffs claim that despite multiple reports of Matthews' abusive behavior, he was allowed to continue using the apps, creating a dangerous environment for users.

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Dr. Stephen Matthews was convicted in August 2024 on 35 counts related to drugging and sexually assaulting 11 women between 2019 and 2023. He was sentenced to 158 years in prison. The lawsuit contends that Matthews was reported to Hinge as early as September 2020, yet he remained active on the app for years, continuing to assault women. The plaintiffs argue that Match Group failed to take adequate measures to protect users from known threats.

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The lawsuit alleges that Match Group's product design is flawed, allowing users to unmatch with victims before they can report them, thus removing access to the reporting features. It also claims that banned users can easily create new accounts without changing their identifying information. The plaintiffs are seeking unspecified damages for negligence, failure to warn users, and violations of consumer protection laws.

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Match Group has previously stated its commitment to user safety, claiming to implement various safety measures, including AI tools and ID verification. However, the plaintiffs argue that these measures were ineffective, as evidenced by Matthews' continued presence on the platform. Carrie Goldberg, one of the attorneys representing the plaintiffs, criticized the company for prioritizing profit over user safety, stating, "This was a corporate choice, and our clients paid the price."

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Critics of Match Group argue that the company has long been aware of the risks associated with its platforms but has failed to act. The lawsuit highlights a pattern of negligence, with multiple reports of Matthews' behavior ignored. Legal analysts note that the lawsuit may face challenges due to Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which provides immunity to online platforms for user-generated content.

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While the plaintiffs assert that Matthews was reported multiple times, Match Group has not publicly addressed the specifics of these reports or the actions taken in response. The company claims to take every report seriously, yet the plaintiffs' experiences suggest a significant gap between policy and practice.

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The lawsuit is expected to proceed through the Denver court system, with the plaintiffs seeking accountability from Match Group and prompting changes in safety protocols across dating apps. The outcome could have broader implications for user safety in the online dating industry, as the plaintiffs aim to highlight systemic failures in protecting users from known dangers.

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• “This is a lawsuit against the world’s largest online dating monopoly for knowingly recommending serial rapist Dr. Stephen Matthews to women on its platforms, who he then drugged and raped,” — Carrie Goldberg, Attorney

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• “Hinge was liable for giving him a platform.” — Alexa, Plaintiff

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• “This was not a mystery. This was not a glitch,” — Carrie Goldberg, Attorney

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• “If these companies are making billions of dollars, they definitely have the resources to make them effective and safe,” — Alexa, Plaintiff

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