TALLAHASSEE — Like a suitor who won't give up, Rep. Kevin Ambler is asking Florida lawmakers to help chaperone Internet dating again.
Ambler, R-Lutz, wants to pass a bill (HB 411) requiring dating Web sites to do a criminal background checks — or disclose that they don't — when dealing with paying Florida customers.
The sites also would have to describe how the checks were done, that the checks are incomplete, and provide safety tips.
Ambler, an attorney who has unsuccessfully pushed the plan since 2005, contends users of matchmaking sites now get a false sense of security without a disclaimer, opening them up to deception or harm.
But convincing the Legislature has been tough. The measure has been endorsed narrowly by a committee in each chamber, suggesting the odds it reaches the House and Senate floor before the session ends May 2 are slim. Ambler, however, says he's hopeful.
"Why should doing your business over the Internet be immune from government's obligation to look out for the health, safety and welfare of its citizens?" asked Ambler, whose co-sponsors include Tampa Bay area Reps. Bill Galvano and Ed Homan.
The Senate version (SB 1536) is sponsored by Sen. Ronda Storms, R-Valrico.
The National Consumer League in February named online dating fraud one of the country's top 10 swindles — the "sweetheart swindle" — in the country, costing people $3,000 on average.
The cheat joins a dating site to cultivate the affections of someone. Then money or private information is pried loose for ill-gotten gains.
"The object is not to get into their hearts. The object is to get into their wallets," Ambler said.
However, industry lobbyists and critical lawmakers say that imperfections in searching criminal records still will give hopeful singles false confidence. And they call the bill a sop for one company that could raise costs for companies and customers.
True.com advertises its background checks to woo customers, and has promoted similar legislation in other states. New Jersey made itself the first state to require the disclosure this year. Ambler notes several sites since he began his efforts have began posting disclosures.
But Match.com — a competitor that posts a disclosure — says promising the background checks and disclosure is misleading. While the Web sites attract millions of users, only a fraction pay for the service. Lobbyists said the bill totally ignores a greater risk, the wide array of free social networking sites.
Jennifer Green, a Match.com lobbyist, told a House committee on March 19 that the company has 1-million users, but only 60,000 paid members who would fall under the law.
Green said Match.com would be fine with legislation that requires safety warnings but that the company finds the criminal check requirement off-point.
Different states and counties offer different access to criminal records. And there's no way to guarantee the name from a credit card payment is the real name of the user, she said.
The House bill cleared the committee 5-3 only after Rep. Bill Heller, D-St. Petersburg, decided to change his vote after an initial tally. A Senate committee passed it March 25 on a 4-2 vote. The bill is expected to have another hearing with House lawmakers this week.
"It just seems like a false sense of security if you put on there, 'background checks,' " said Sen. Charlie Justice, D-St. Petersburg.
David DeCamp can be reached at ddecamp@sptimes.com or (850) 224-7263.
[Last modified: Apr 08, 2008 04:33 PM]
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