In Denver, a young woman went on a date with a cardiologist she met through the dating app Hinge. Unbeknownst to her, Match Group, the company behind Hinge, had already received reports from two other women accusing him of rape. The 34-year-old doctor, with green eyes and thinning hair, took her to Highland Tap & Burger, a trendy sports bar. Afterward, she accepted his invitation to visit his apartment.
Once there, he handed her a tequila soda. According to court testimony, after drinking it, she began losing control, her memory becoming blurred. She fell to the ground, and the man started filming her. He put her in a headlock, kissing her forehead as she struggled to free herself. Eventually, she managed to grab her belongings and leave. He followed her out, holding her shoes and trying to force her back inside, but she was able to call an Uber and left, vomiting during the ride home.
When she woke up at home, she was soaking wet on her bathroom floor, with the key to her house still on her door. She continued vomiting for hours before reporting the assault to Hinge.
This incident is part of an 18-month investigation called The Dating Apps Reporting Project, produced in partnership with the Pulitzer Center’s AI Accountability Network and The Markup, now part of CalMatters, and co-published with The Guardian and The 19th. Stephanie Wolf contributed to the reporting, while Natasha Uzcátegui-Liggett led the statistical analysis on Match Group apps.
Hinge is one of over a dozen dating apps owned by Match Group, a $8.5 billion global conglomerate that also owns Tinder, OkCupid, and Plenty of Fish. The company controls half of the world's online dating market, facilitating meetups for millions globally.
Match Group's official safety policy states that users reported for assault should have all associated accounts banned across their platforms. However, Stephen Matthews remained active on Hinge even after being reported for rape just four days prior. Another report followed a week later, leading to a police complaint.
The victims were unaware that Match Group had known about Matthews' violent behavior since September 28, 2020, when the first report was made. Despite this, he continued to use the apps until his arrest nearly two months later. By then, at least 15 women reported being raped or drugged by him, most meeting him through Match Group apps.
On October 25, a Denver judge sentenced Matthews to 158 years to life in prison after a jury convicted him of 35 counts related to drugging and sexually assaulting eight women, drugging two more, and assaulting another, totaling 11 victims. Attorneys for the women argued much of this violence could have been prevented.
Laura Wolf, representing the woman whose police report led to Matthews' arrest, criticized Hinge for allowing him access to its platforms despite numerous reports of sexual assault. The Dating Apps Reporting Project respects survivors' anonymity requests and has not disclosed their identities.
Match Group's extensive reach means people are more likely to meet through its apps than in traditional settings like bars, church, or through friends. However, cases like Matthews' highlight how these apps facilitate connections for potential abusers. A 2022 study by Brigham Young University found that dating app-facilitated assaults occur faster and are more violent than those initiated through other means, often targeting vulnerable individuals; nearly 60% of sexual assault survivors reported mental illnesses.
Internal documents reveal that Match Group has tracked users reported for drugging, assaulting, or raping dates since at least 2016. Since 2019, their central database, Sentinel, has recorded hundreds of such incidents weekly. In 2020, Match Group promised to release a transparency report detailing harm occurring on and off its platforms, but as of February 2021, it remains unpublished.
Instead, the company debated what information to disclose. An internal presentation from 2021 questioned whether they should only publish legally required data or go beyond that. Despite possessing tools, resources, and procedures to prevent repeat offenders, Match Group resisted implementing them widely, fearing it might hinder corporate growth.
In response to public scrutiny, Match Group pledged improvements but insiders claim little progress has been made. Hiring sprees sparked by congressional and media pressure have largely ended, and remaining employees from the central trust-and-safety team were let go in 2024, with their jobs outsourced overseas. Facing financial pressures, CEO Bernard Kim was removed in early 2025 due to declining subscriber numbers on Tinder.
Congress has repeatedly requested data from Match Group regarding sexual harm. In February 2020, 11 members of Congress sought details on the company's response to sexual violence reports. Although follow-ups occurred, no data has been provided. In September 2024, the House passed a bill requiring consumers to be notified if they interacted with banned users, though it excluded addressing sexual assault and ultimately failed in the Senate.
Our review of internal documents, court records, securities filings, and interviews with current and former employees and survivors reveals that women reporting rape often receive little attention, while accused rapists continue using the apps. Testing conducted in February 2025 showed that banned Tinder users, including those reported for sexual assault, can easily create new accounts or switch to other Match Group apps without changing personal details.
Match Group responded to our findings with a statement acknowledging its role in fostering safer communities and promoting respectful connections. They emphasized efforts to combat violence, although testing results contradicted this claim.
Tracey Breeden was hired in September 2020 as Match Group's head of safety and social advocacy. With a background in law enforcement and experience reviving Uber's reputation post-scandals, she was tasked with improving safety measures across Match Group apps. Her initiatives included partnerships with NGOs, AI-assisted photo verification, and a law enforcement portal.
Despite initial praise, Michael Lawrie, a long-time Match Group employee focused on safety, expressed frustration that Breeden and leadership ignored pleas for improved safety protocols. His team at OkCupid used advanced moderation tools to identify repeat offenders effectively, but these were not implemented across other brands. Under Breeden's leadership, investigations sped up, and outsourcing increased, compromising quality.
By 2022, Lawrie and many of his team had left due to a negative work environment, with their roles outsourced to less skilled contractors. He warns users that dating apps prioritize profit over protection, leaving individuals largely responsible for their own safety.
As Lawrie exited Match Group, Matthews continued appearing on their apps. Despite multiple reports of rape, his profile was promoted as a Standout on Hinge, indicating compatibility. By this time, he had allegedly assaulted nine women and drugged ten others.
The pandemic affected Match Group's profits, leading to leadership changes. Shar Dubey was replaced by Bernard Kim, who prioritized expansion and profitability over safety. Trust and safety mentions diminished under Kim's tenure, culminating in Breeden's dismissal in October 2022. Layoffs followed, dismantling her central safety team.
A Facebook group in Denver exposed Matthews' behavior in December 2022, with over 150 comments detailing negative experiences. These stories mirrored police reports released the following year. Despite public awareness within this group, Matthews remained active on Match Group apps, continuing to match with unsuspecting women.
Match Group hired and fired Breeden, made promises, announced initiatives, and planned transparency reports but did not adequately inform the public of risks posed by users like Matthews. Their partnership with Garbo, a background check service, ended in 2023 due to pera ceived lack of commitment to user safety.
Kim eventually acknowledged safety concerns publicly, introducing features aimed at enhancing female users' experiences. However, transparency commitments disappeared from annual impact reports, coinciding with European legislation mandating disclosures on "non-consensual behavior." Match Group will submit a transparency report to the EU shortly, while lawmakers in India and Australia seek similar accountability.
Challenges persist even with new leadership under Spencer Rascoff, replacing Kim in 2025. Efforts include requiring face photos and implementing a "Share My Date" feature for tracking meetups. Still, these wouldn't have stopped Matthews, who openly identified himself and committed crimes in his home.
Matthews was sentenced to 158 years to life in prison in October 2023. Laura Wolf criticized Hinge and other platforms for failing to ensure user safety, matching women with known predators. Match Group delayed providing evidence to prosecutors, complicating Matthews' conviction process.
Legislation inspired by the Matthews case requires dating app companies to inform Colorado's attorney general about safety measures, though specifics on reported rapes or assaults remain undisclosed. Globally, lawmakers are increasingly demanding answers from Match Group regarding user protection.
If released today, Stephen Matthews could rejoin a dating app, highlighting Match Group's ongoing failure to share critical safety data, leaving millions unaware of potential dangers.