Match Group, the parent company of Tinder, Hinge, and Match.com, has faced criticism for prioritizing leftist political activism over user safety. The company attempted to influence elections by mobilizing young left-leaning singles for Kamala Harris while promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives instead of addressing sexual predators on its platforms.
After using its apps to encourage voter participation in ways that aligned with progressive causes, Match Group appointed Democratic donor Spencer Rascoff as CEO. Rascoff has contributed nearly $100,000 to Democrats, including Kamala Harris, Hillary Clinton, and Joe Biden. Under his leadership, the company has continued its commitment to DEI policies, even as other major tech firms scale back similar programs.
During the last election cycle, Tinder encouraged young singles to vote on “reproductive rights” and transgender issues while presenting these efforts as “non-partisan.” Match Group’s Chief Marketing Officer, Melissa Hobley, openly stated that the company’s goal was to “drive meaningful change” by engaging its user base in political activism.
Despite its activism, Match Group has been criticized for failing to protect users from sexual predators. Internal documents show that the company tracked reports of serious offenses like rape as early as 2016 but failed to disclose the extent of the problem. A database called Sentinel collected reports of hundreds of incidents weekly by 2022. However, Match Group did not release a promised transparency report on sexual violence occurring on its platforms.
One of the most notorious cases involved Denver cardiologist Stephen Matthews, who was repeatedly reported for rape on Hinge but continued creating new profiles. At least 15 women reported that Matthews raped or drugged them after meeting through Match Group apps. He was sentenced to 158 years in prison in 2024.
Instead of prioritizing user safety, Match Group has focused on enforcing speech restrictions and using facial recognition technology to ban users linked to the January 6 protests—even those who never entered the Capitol. While other tech companies are pulling back from DEI initiatives under the Trump administration, Match Group has doubled down, posting new job openings for DEI leadership and emphasizing its commitment to left-wing policies.
