Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Free Date Screening API Offered to Dating Websites

In wake of the recent tragic events leading up to the lawsuit against Match.com, PlayerBlock.com is offering a free API for additional screening of its members to Match.com and all other dating websites. The recent lawsuit of Match.com comes from one of its members claiming she was sexually assaulted by another member. The offending member in this case was in fact a registered sex offender. In addition, free date screening is offered to all dating website users directly by going to www.PlayerBlock.com. The website enables its users to search the database based on Name, Phone Number (including mobile) and now even with photographs through the use of its Facial Recognition Technology Software.

According to industry sources, the lawsuit against Match.com is a “wake up call for all Online Dating Companies which do not take remedial efforts to at least afford users with some tools to protect themselves from sexual predators to con artists.” According to several legal analysts Online Dating Services must arm their users with at least some opportunity to do the equivalent of a dating history check through PlayerBlock.com or similar services, otherwise they could be setting themselves up for a jury verdict which could top millions of dollars or otherwise forcing the dating company to close its door altogether.

In fact, the lawsuit demands that Match.com screen its members for sexual predators and asks for a temporary injunction banning the site from signing up new members. Match.com released a statement, “Screening for sexual predators is hardly a guarantee that all members are safe and could actually lead to a false sense of security. But they are moving forward with a plan to do so now because a combination of improved technology and an improved database now enables a significant degree of accuracy.” Although screening for sexual predators would seem a viable step, The PlayerBlock.com API can serve up additional information on users to assist in making informed dating decisions and therefore eliminate the types of lawsuits faced by Match.com and eventually its competitors unless “some action” is taken to protect their users.

PlayerBlock.com is a community driven website that enables users to provide feedback on people they have dated in the past. The website enables its users to search the database based on Name, Phone Number or Photo (Face Recognition Technology). Like any community driven review website, users of this service would have to use their own discretion with any information found in the database. The API will enable websites such as Match.com to make API requests to the PlayerBlock.com database to search for matching records. Additionally websites such as Match.com could send any new dating reviews to PlayerBlock.com via the free API.

Press inquiries and assistance with incorporating the PlayerBlock.com API and integration thereof are welcomed and available, respectively. Individual users may go directly to the PlayerBlock.com site and begin to protect themselves as tens of thousands of individuals already have.