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ARTICLE · 11 JULY 2013

Dangerous Liaisons: Be Careful About Online Hook-Ups

Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
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Looking for love on the internet? Exercise appropriate caution, as Mary Kay Beckman learned the hard way.

CanadaConsumer Protection

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​Looking for love on the internet? Exercise appropriate caution, as Mary Kay Beckman learned the hard way. Beckman created a profile on Match.com and hooked up with a man who turned out to be the date from hell. When Beckman decided to end things after a few meetings, she received 'threatening and harassing text messages' from said date, who then subjected her to a 'brutal attack'. Beckman sued the online dating platform which had occasioned her unhappy meeting: Beckman v Match.com (DC Nev, 31 May 2013).

Her claim was dismissed. Federal legislation on deceptive trade practices could not provide the basis for a negligence claim. The Communications Decency Act (CDA) didn't work either, because it provides immunity to providers of interactive computer services who enable users like Beckman and her attacker to publish information. As a result, Match.com could not be liable for any emotional distress resulting from the publication of a user's personal info because it

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