A picture of the Tinder dating app logo on a device in New York on July 28, 2020. A lawsuit against Tinder's parent company, Match Group, alleges that Tinder and similar apps like Hinge have features that make people use them too much. (Photo: AP Photo/Patrick Sison, File)
In a recent court decision, Trevor Howitt, a Saskatchewan man, successfully appealed to have his release conditions eased after a sexual encounter with a 15-year-old girl he met on Tinder. Howitt had been convicted of sexual interference and sentenced to 39 months in prison following a trial at the Saskatoon Court of King’s Bench.
The judge initially imposed strict conditions for three years after Howitt’s release, including restrictions against working with or attending certain locations where there might be anyone under the age of 16 and using the internet except for job-related purposes. However, Howitt argued that these restrictions were overly broad and went beyond what was reasonable to minimize the risk.
The appeal court agreed that the restrictions needed adjustment. Instead of scrapping them altogether, they shortened the duration by a year and modified the conditions to address Howitt’s risk factors. The court recognized that a blanket restriction on internet use was unreasonable, given its ubiquity in everyday tasks. However, they specifically banned Howitt from using the internet to communicate with anyone over social media or chat forums, accessing dating apps or websites, or viewing pornography.
The case highlights the delicate balance between safety measures and practical internet usage. While the court acknowledged the challenges posed by platforms like Tinder, they emphasized the need to protect minors while allowing reasonable access to online resources.
