The Relationship Between Matching Apps and Prostitution
According to statistics released by the National Police Agency in May 2021, the number of cases in which matching apps were used in connection with sex-oriented encounters and prostitution rose by about 40% year-on-year in 2020.
The existing "Dating-Site Regulation Act" (the Act on Regulation of Acts Such as Luring Children Through Internet Dating Services) was built on the assumptions of when it was enacted in 2003, and its regulatory framework does not cover the wide variety of matching apps that have appeared since the spread of smartphones.
Platforms That Have Become Loopholes
The problem lies with apps that are operated ostensibly for romance and friendship but in practice function as platforms for "papa-katsu" (compensated dating involving the exchange of money) and prostitution.
The operators of such apps argue that they "merely provide a place to meet and are not involved in what happens afterward," but experts criticize this as "intentional evasion of regulation that amounts to complicity in leaving harmful information unaddressed."
The Direction of Tighter Regulation
The National Police Agency has identified as topics for review "clarifying or expanding the scope of the Dating-Site Regulation Act" and "strengthening monitoring and reporting obligations on the platform side." In particular, the focus is on the effectiveness of measures to prevent use by those under 18 and on making it mandatory to address postings that suggest sexual transactions.
This article was compiled based on publicly available information.