A rise in sexual offending linked to dating apps has police urging people to report assaults, but an expert warns the system remains stacked against victims.
Victoria Police has made the appeal for Sexual Assault Awareness Month in April, with authorities receiving more reports of incidents as people meet in person.
Almost three in four people have experienced online sexual harassment, aggression or violence from someone they met on a dating app, while one in five reported being threatened, an Australian study has found.
Investigators say the concerning trends arise from what begins as consensual sex, before consent is withdrawn for any reason.
Consent can be given or withdrawn at any time for any reason, and must be expressed every single time people engage in sexual activity.
Dating apps provide offenders with an opportunity to perpetrate sexual violence because they feel entitled to people's bodies, Rape and Sexual Assault Research and Advocacy chief executive Rachael Burgin said.
She said platforms allow perpetrators to "game the system" by un-matching or deleting accounts, moving from one platform to another or creating a new profile with a new email address.
The Swinburne University criminal justice lecturer said the system remains tilted against victims who report sexual offending who are often women and girls, LGBTQI people and from migrant communities.
"Perpetrators of sexual violence prey on the fact that they know people are not going to feel comfortable going to police," Dr Burgin told AAP.
"These are the groups who are less likely to be supported by police when they do report and more likely to be shamed and blamed."
She said police need to demonstrate how they are improving their practices in relation to the gendered phenomenon.
But Dr Bergin said people should definitely report their sexual assault to police, if they want to and if they feel supported in doing so.
Sexual offence and child abuse investigator Detective Senior Sergeant Monique Kelley wants victims to know it is never too late to come forward and make a report.
Detectives are trained to understand the complexities of sexual offences and victim support, and can request information from dating apps to investigate even when one party has blocked or deleted someone.
Sexual Crimes Squad Detective Inspector Mark Burnett said investigators commonly see victims feel they "owe" the offender something because the person has spent time messaging them, travelled to see them, or bought them a meal or drink.
"I really want to be absolutely clear that you do not owe anyone anything, ever," he said.
A voluntary code took effect in April to address safety concerns by proactively detecting potential incidents of harm, banning perpetrators and making reporting easier.
Tinder, Hinge, Grindr and RSVP and other dating apps say they have safety tools to help stop people with bad intentions, and the code reflects their commitment to user safety.
While popular dating app platforms have signed on for the code, Dr Burgin said this was no more than companies engaging in "corporate whitewashing".
"No voluntary code is going to be prioritised over the bottom line," she said.
Sexual Assault Services Victoria chief executive Kathleen Maltzahn said the code was unproven and toothless, and will do nothing to prevent sexual violence.
Expecting the apps to investigate and hold themselves accountable will not work, she added.
