A bill in the Illinois legislature would require online dating services to learn more about their members than their favorite colors and pet peeves. For instance, do they have a criminal record?
Illinois State Representative John Bradley says currently a death row inmate, an identity thief, or a con artist could be signed up for any of the online dating services and potential partners wouldn't have a clue.
Bradley's bill would require any online dating service with members in Illinois to disclose on their Web sites whether they have conducted background checks on members.
"I was shocked to learn that online dating services provide no kind of background check," Bradley said during a legislative hearing.
Bradley's legislation, which was approved by the committee and sent to the full House for consideration, is designed to give dating service customers more information about the people they may go out with. For starters, if someone has a criminal record, that would have to be noted online. Service providers who violate the act would face a $1,000 fine per violation.
Online dating services that did not want to abide by the new rule would be forced to exclude all Illinois residents from membership.
