Sep 28, 2020 - Technology

Exclusive: Match Group hires first-ever head of safety and advocacy

Photo: Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Match Group on Monday will announce that Tracey Breeden has been hired as its first-ever head of safety and social advocacy, a newly-created role.

Why it matters: The hire speaks to growing concerns over harassment, data privacy, social bias and minority safety on dating platforms. Match Group is one of the world's largest dating tech companies.

Details: In her new role, Breeden will oversee Match Group’s trust and safety policies and initiatives across all of its products, including Tinder, Hinge, OkCupid, Match, and Plenty of Fish.

  • Breeden will be responsible for helping the product teams at each dating app invest in new safety features and technologies.
  • She will work with a group of experts and advocates involved in the study and prevention of sexual assault, sex trafficking, abuse, harassment, and similar issues called the Match Group Advisory Council (MGAC).
  • She will report to Gary Swidler, chief operating officer and chief financial officer at Match Group. 

Prior to joining Match, Breeden was head of Uber’s women’s safety and gender-based violence operations.

The big picture: Match has pushed to get ahead of issues and regulatory pressure around sexual assault, violence and harassment on dating apps.

  • Earlier this year, it became the first major tech company to publicly support the EARN IT Act, a bipartisan Senate bill that aims to reduce online child sexual exploitation by limiting tech platforms' liability protections.
  • The company has implemented a number of features around safety and security in recent months, including a new date check-in feature and photo verification.

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