Dating Apps Pivot to Biometric Verification Amid AI Scam Surge

Dating platforms are increasingly requiring biometric data to verify users as AI-generated deepfakes and voice cloning fuel a rise in romance scams, as Wired first reported. According to the FBI, romance scams in the US exceeded $4 billion between 2015 and 2025. In response, Tinder reported that 98 percent of its content-moderation actions were focused on combating spam, fake accounts, and scamming for its 60 million global users.

To address these threats, Tinder launched "Face Check" in October 2025, a mandatory face-screening tool for new members. Match Group, which owns Tinder, told Wired that the tool is also being rolled out to existing users in core markets, including the UK and US. Yoel Roth, head of trust and safety for Match Group, described the move as a statement on the requirements for online human connection. Match Group claims Face Check stores an encrypted map of facial shapes rather than actual photos.

Other verification methods include 3D authentication, video selfies, and iris-scanning. Tools for Humanity partnered with Tinder in April to offer World ID, an optional system where users scan their eyes via an "orb" device to receive a "verified human" badge. Tiago Sada, chief product officer at Tools for Humanity, argues that proof-of-human systems will soon be necessary for most online platforms. The company claims the orb deletes images after sending a coded version to the user's phone.

However, critics warn these measures create significant security vulnerabilities. Cybersecurity researcher Katie Moussouris told Wired that such scans are "security theater," noting that a verified profile can still be operated by a scammer. Woodrow Hartzog, a Boston University technology law professor, warned that normalizing facial recognition is dangerous, calling it the "most dangerous surveillance tool ever created."