Tinder has begun trialing a new facial recognition security feature in the U.S. to combat fake profiles and impersonation on its dating platform.
According to Axios, new users in California are now required to complete a biometric “Face Check” to ensure their profile photos match their real appearance.
The Face Check process involves taking a short video selfie, which is analyzed using facial biometrics to verify the user is a real person, not a bot or someone using AI-generated images. Upon successful completion, users receive a verified badge, adding a visible layer of trust to their profile.
Additionally, the system checks whether the same face is being used across multiple accounts, a move aimed at curbing “catfishing” and impersonation scams.
This feature differs from Tinder’s ID Check, which verifies identity and age using government-issued documents. While Tinder has allowed users to verify profiles through video selfies since 2023, verification was optional — until now. With the current trial, Californians must go through some form of verification to use the app.
“We see this as one part of a set of identity assurance options that are available to users,” said Yoel Roth, Head of Trust and Safety at Match Group, Tinder’s parent company. “Face Check is really meant to be about confirming that this person is a real, live person and not a bot or a spoofed account.”
Tinder says that while the video selfie is deleted after the verification process, it retains a “non-reversible, encrypted face map” to help detect and block duplicate or fraudulent accounts in the future.
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The feature was previously piloted in Canada and Colombia, where Match Group claims it improved trust and reduced reports of malicious users. Tinder will monitor California users’ responses before considering a wider U.S. rollout.
