Online dating runs on trust.
Every profile, match, message, and decision to meet depends on one simple question: is this person real? As AI-generated identities, deepfake liveness attacks, romance scams, synthetic profiles, and coordinated fraud networks become more convincing, that question is getting harder for platforms and users to answer.
At the same time, users want safer dating experiences without turning every swipe into a security checkpoint.
Developed by Sumsub in partnership with the ODDA, the Are you real? white paper explores how online dating platforms can respond to the new trust and safety landscape, protect users from AI-enabled deception, and create verification journeys that feel proportionate, transparent, and worth saying yes to.
Inside, you’ll discover:
- How AI is changing romance fraud, from synthetic identities and deepfake verification attempts to autonomous fraud agents and scam networks
- Why user trust is becoming a growth issue, with safety fears influencing acquisition, engagement, and retention across dating platforms
- What users will accept in exchange for safety, and how platforms can introduce verification without killing the chemistry
- Where current trust and safety models fall short, including one-time checks, reactive moderation, and limited cross-platform intelligence
- How the DATE framework can help platforms respond, through risk-based deterrence, behavioral analysis, high-risk triage, and user empowerment
- What the next era of trusted online dating looks like, from reusable identity signals and stronger age assurance to visible trust features that help genuine users connect
The white paper also includes industry data, expert commentary, survivor perspectives, and a practical playbook for building safer dating experiences in an age of AI-generated deception.
The ODDA is the trade association recognised as the voice of the online dating and social discovery sector, supported by a membership who believe in trust & safety, honesty & clarity, and privacy; and who believe in creating a positive experience for users; and a technology ecosystem that supports innovation in the sector.
