Dating Apps Turn to Mandatory Face Scans Amid Surge in AI-Driven Scams

In 2025, a wave of AI-generated fake accounts forced Tinder to allocate most of its moderation resources to removing scams, prompting the launch of a mandatory Face Check for new members and its rollout to current users in the US and UK. Over a dozen dating services now employ facial recognition, liveness checks, 3D authentication or iris-scan systems such as Tools for Humanity’s World ID, which issues a verified badge after scanning the colored part of the eye.

Companies assert that biometric data are encrypted and not retained, yet researchers like Katie Moussouris argue that face scans offer only superficial assurance and can be spoofed. Privacy scholars warn that normalising facial surveillance creates broader risks, a concern addressed by Utah’s new digital-identity law and praised by the ACLU as the nation’s strongest such bill. The trend underscores a tension between curbing romance fraud—over $4 billion since 2015—and protecting users’ biometric privacy.