News

Tinder Will Soon Let You Background Check Your Matches

Published

5 years ago

March 22, 2021

tinder will soon let you background check your matches

Tinder dates are about to become a bit less nerve-wracking because the company behind the online dating application, Match Group, has invested in low-cost background check provider Garbo.

Thanks to Garbo, Tinder users will be able to see their potential date’s arrest record or history of violence just by entering the person’s first name and phone number or their full name only — information they should have before going on a date.

Garbo’s database includes public records and reports of violence or abuse, including arrests, convictions, restraining orders, harassment, and other violent crimes. The service accepts manual submissions of police report(s), order(s) of protection/restraining orders, and other legal documents that report abuse, harassment, or other crimes.

Garbo doesn’t, however, publicize charges that, according to the platform’s active stance toward equity, promote racism, hate, and oppression. “Garbo is acutely aware of systemic racial inequality in America and that the intimations of this are embedded in the criminal justice system,” explained Garbo in a blog post.

Most notably, Garbo believes that there’s no link between drug possession and gender-based violence, the company’s main focus. In addition to drug possession charges, Garbo also doesn’t disclose traffic violations, so don’t be surprised when your Tinder date runs a red light when speeding to make your restaurant reservation on time.

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The background check feature won’t be free, but Tinder’s parent company is trying to make it as accessible as possible. It’s possible that Tinder will charge for each background check, but the dating app could also include a certain number of background checks in each of its premium subscription plans.

Since Match Group also owns OkCupid, Hinge, and, of course, Match, it’s likely that their users will get to enjoy the ability to run background checks on potential dates in the near future. It’s worth noting that Match Group won’t share any data with Garbo, so it will be up to users themselves to enter the necessary information manually.

News

Lebanon Ministers Meet Visa Over National Digital Payment Platform

Finance and technology ministers say a comparative study and roadmap will follow before any decision on adopting a model.

Published

1 day ago

May 5, 2026

Joanna Melki

lebanon ministers meet visa over national digital payment platform

Lebanon’s finance and technology ministers met representatives from Visa last week to discuss a proposed unified national digital payment platform for government services, according to a readout from the Ministry of Finance.

The meeting brought together Finance Minister Yassin Jaber, Minister of State for Technology and Artificial Intelligence Kamal Shehadeh, a Visa delegation, and experts from both ministries. Discussion focused on whether Lebanon could establish a single platform through which citizens and institutions would pay taxes, fees, fines and other official transactions electronically, using mobile phones and other digital channels.

The Visa delegation presented examples from countries that have adopted unified government payment platforms, including the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Estonia and Jordan. According to the readout, the examples were presented as having increased collection rates and expanded financial inclusion.

Talks covered settlement mechanisms, direct transfer to the treasury account, financial reconciliation, risk management, cybersecurity, fees, and an operational model that would involve the private sector. The parties agreed to continue technical and institutional consultations, prepare a comparative study, and develop an implementation roadmap before any decision on adopting a model for Lebanon.

Jaber said the Ministry of Finance had already enabled citizens to pay using credit cards and e-wallets through transfer companies, but described the proposed platform as a further step. He framed the development of electronic payment and collection systems as a priority within the ministry’s modernization plan.

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Shehadeh outlined the citizen-facing concept as a single mobile application through which users could settle obligations to ministries, government institutions and other bodies.

“The idea, in short, is that any citizen downloads an application on their mobile phone, through which they can pay all service obligations for all ministries, government institutions, or those owned by the Lebanese state, and others as well, as the platform is not limited only to state institutions,” he said.

Shehadeh added that the platform would not displace banks and money transfer companies that currently provide collection services to the state, calling it complementary to their work.