Tinder face verification is becoming mandatory for all new US users, starting this week in California and gradually rolling out to other states. The Face Check feature is already in use in six other countries, including Canada. When you first open the app, you will be asked to carry out a moving face scan similar to that used when setting up Face ID … Tinder parent Match Group says the face scan will be compared to the profile photos to determine whether they are of the same person. New members complete Face Check by taking a short video selfie within the app. The system helps confirm, a) That the person is real and physically present and b) That their face matches the one shown in their profile photos […] “Face Check is perhaps the most measurably impactful Trust and Safety feature I’ve seen in my 15-year career,” said Yoel Roth, Head of Trust & Safety at Match Group. “It helps tackle one of the hardest problems online, knowing whether someone is real, in a way that feels seamless and effective for real users, while adding meaningful obstacles that are difficult for bad actors to circumvent. It sets a new benchmark for trust and safety across the dating industry.” The tech is intended to detect real people with multiple accounts, scammers using stolen photos, and bots using AI-generated photos. The app doesn’t have access to the iPhone’s Face ID module for a true 3D scan, but by getting image captures from multiple angles it can build a 3D model. The company says that the video selfies are deleted as soon as the user has been verified. Video selfies are used only to complete the verification process and are deleted shortly after review. A non-reversible, encrypted face map and face vector are stored solely to help verify new photos, detect fraud, and prevent duplicate accounts. These safeguards reflect Tinder’s commitment to developing safety technology that protects users while respecting their privacy. Cat-fishing and other scams are now a massive problem on dating apps, with bots using generative AI to engage in online chats, enabling scammers to significantly scale up their operations. This kind of verification is likely to become increasingly common as apps fight back. Highlighted accessories Image: Match