Important: You should always do your own due diligence on anyone you meet online, and especially if you then plan to meet them in real life. Review the Online Dating Association's Date Safe resources for tips on how to stay safe when dating online.
ID verification, sex-offender registry checks and criminal background check services on Meet Kinksters are inherently limited in their scope and efficacy. Never depend exclusively on these or similar features in making a safety decision about engaging with someone you meet online.
How ID verification works on Meet Kinksters
Premium members are encouraged to verify their identity using our easy-to-use tool which scans a government-issued ID and takes a live selfie. We then compare that data to the user's profile photos and/or selfies previously taken when joining to determine if the profile matches the same identity. We also ensure the member's age is properly stored in our database.
These measures help reduce the chance of "catfishing," which is when someone assumes a false identity online.
What information does Meet Kinksters store from my ID?
ID scanning and validation is performed by a trusted vendor who specializes in identity document verification. We store data from the printed text on your ID's front side and, in the case of North American ID cards/driver licenses, the data from the 2D barcode on the back. We store the selfie photo taken during the verification process, however we do not retain photos of your ID document, including the photo on the ID.
What do you do with the information collected?
The data from your ID, including your photo, are compared against the selfie. If there is reasonable confidence in the selfie matching the person on the ID (that is, "it is you"), then we store the data as outlined above. We then perform some or all of the following actions:
- Comparing any previous selfies taken during account verification, e.g. when you signed up
- Comparing your profile photos to the selfie taken during ID verification
If any photos don't appear to match your identity, we may remove them, ask that you upload more representative/current photos, or potentially terminate your account if there is a blatant misrepresentation.
- Ensure your age matches the age derived from the birthdate on your ID. (We only ever show your age, not your specific birthdate.)
We also may perform the following checks against public databases:
- For members verifying with a United States identification card or passport, a search against a third-party database of registered sex offenders. (Users with a match are automatically banned from the service.
- For members verifying with a United States identification card or passport, a check against public-records of criminal and civil convictions.
The above measures may be taken repeatedly over time at no additional expense.
Addressing false positives: If you know that you share a first and last name and birthdate with a registered sex offender or someone with a concerning conviction record, contact us before conducting your identity verification.
Is identity verification required to use Meet Kinksters?
No. This is an optional process and is separate from our "face liveness" check that is performed during sign-up.
How long do you retain data from the ID verification?
We retain your ID verification information for the lifetime of your account, regardless of whether your premium membership lapses. You may delete the data by deleting your account. We may retain data beyond your account termination if you are found to violate our terms of service (including community standards) or a court order mandates we do so.
How is my ID verification displayed throughout Meet Kinksters?
We display a note on your profile stating that you've verified your ID, and details about any relevant public-data checks we have performed. This is a great way to show potential matches that you're serious about your search for that special kinkster.
Can other people see my ID, or any personal information like my real name or birthdate?
No. This information is kept in strict confidence within our back-end system and is only used as outlined above.