ONLINE DATING SAFETY ACT RULES
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Code of Colorado Regulations › 900 Department of Law › 904 Attorney General-Consumer Protection Section › 4 CCR 904-5
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Colorado Department of Law
Consumer Protection Section
ONLINE DATING SAFETY ACT RULES
4 CCR 904-5
[Editor’s Notes follow the text of the rules at the end of this CCR Document.]
PART 1
GENERAL APPLICABILITY
Rule 1.01
Authority
The statutory authority for this Part 904-5 is sections C.R.S. §§ 6-1-108(1) and 6-1-
731.5(4.5).
Rule 1.02
Severability
If any provision of these Online Dating Safety Act Rules, 4 CCR 904-5, is found to be
invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remaining provisions of the Rules shall
remain in full force and effect.
PART 2
DEFINITIONS
Rule 2.01
Authority and Purpose
The statutory authority for the rules in this Part 2 is C.R.S. §§ 6-1-108(1) and 6-1-
731.5(4.5). The purpose of these rules is to define certain undefined terms that are used
throughout the Online Dating Safety Act, C.R.S. § 6-1-731.5, and these Online Dating
Safety Act Rules, 4 CCR 904-5. The terms defined by this rule and C.R.S. § 6-1-731(1)
are capitalized where they appear in the rules to let the reader know to refer to the
definitions. When a term is used in a conventional sense, and is not intended to be a
defined term, it is not capitalized.
Rule 2.01
Defined Terms
“Annual Safety Report” means the annual report concerning Member safety and the
Online Dating Service’s compliance with C.R.S. § 6-1-731.5 as required by C.R.S. § 6-
1-731.5(4)(b).
Code of Colorado Regulations
Secretary of State
State of Colorado
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s not intended to be a
defined term, it is not capitalized.
Rule 2.01
Defined Terms
“Annual Safety Report” means the annual report concerning Member safety and the
Online Dating Service’s compliance with C.R.S. § 6-1-731.5 as required by C.R.S. § 6-
1-731.5(4)(b).
Code of Colorado Regulations
Secretary of State
State of Colorado
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PART 3
SAFETY POLICY
Rule 3.01
Authority and Purpose
A.
The statutory authority for the rules in this Part 3 is C.R.S. §§ 6-1-108(1) and 6-1-
731.5(4.5). The purpose of the rules in Part 3 is to ensure that Online Dating
Services understand the process to submit to the attorney general's office the
URL for its Safety Policy and that the Safety Policy is understandable to
Members.
Rule 3.02
Process to Submit Safety Policy URL
A.
Pursuant to C.R.S. § 6-1-731.4(a), an Online Dating Service shall submit the
URL for its Safety Policy posted on its website to the attorney general’s office
within fifteen days after enacting the Safety Policy. If an Online Dating Service
updates the URL for its Safety Policy, it shall submit the updated URL to the
attorney general’s office within seven days after updating the URL.
B.
An Online Dating Service shall submit the required Safety Policy URL to the
attorney general’s office through the form available on the attorney general’s
website, located at https://coag.gov/dating-safety/.
Rule 3.03
Requirements for Safety Policy
A.
The Safety Policy made available to Members pursuant to C.R.S. § 6-1-731.5(2)
must be:
1.
Understandable and accessible to Members, considering the
vulnerabilities or unique characteristics of the target audience of the
Online Dating Service. For example, the Safety Policies shall use plain,
straightforward language and avoid technical or legal jargon.
2.
Reasonably accessible to Members with Disabilities, including through the
use of digital accessibility tools
-1-731.5(2)
must be:
1.
Understandable and accessible to Members, considering the
vulnerabilities or unique characteristics of the target audience of the
Online Dating Service. For example, the Safety Policies shall use plain,
straightforward language and avoid technical or legal jargon.
2.
Reasonably accessible to Members with Disabilities, including through the
use of digital accessibility tools. For Safety Policies provided online, the
Online Dating Service shall follow generally recognized industry
standards, such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, version 2.1
of June 5, 2018, from the World Wide Web Consortium, incorporated
herein by reference as described at Rule 5.02. In other contexts, the
Online Dating Service shall provide information on how a Member with a
disability may access the disclosure or communication in an alternative
format.
3.
Available in the languages in which the Online Dating Service in its
ordinary course provides web pages, interfaces, contracts, disclaimers,
sale announcements, and other information to Members.
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4.
Readable on all devices through which Members interact with the Online
Dating Service, including on smaller screens and through mobile
applications, if applicable.
PART 4
ANNUAL REPORT
Rule 4.01
Authority and Purpose
A.
The statutory authority for the rules in this Part 4 is C.R.S. §§ 6-1-108(1), 6-1-
731.5(4)(b)-(c), (4.5). The purpose of the rules in Part 4 is to clarify the scope
and content of the Online Dating Service Annual Safety Report required by
C.R.S. § 6-1-731.5.
Rule 4.02
Scope
A.
An Online Dating Service shall create an Annual Safety Report as required by
C.R.S. § 6-1-731.5. An Online Dating Service Annual Safety Report shall be a
genuine, thoughtful analysis that:
1.
documents measures taken by the Online Dating Service to comply with
C.R.S. § 6-1-731.5;
2.
describes the Online Dating Service policies to promote safer online and
in-person dating experiences for Members; and
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nline Dating Service shall create an Annual Safety Report as required by
C.R.S. § 6-1-731.5. An Online Dating Service Annual Safety Report shall be a
genuine, thoughtful analysis that:
1.
documents measures taken by the Online Dating Service to comply with
C.R.S. § 6-1-731.5;
2.
describes the Online Dating Service policies to promote safer online and
in-person dating experiences for Members; and
3.
details the implementation of the Online Dating Service policies
concerning Member safety.
B.
If an Online Dating Service creates an Annual Safety Report for the purpose of
complying with another jurisdiction’s law or regulation, the report for the other
jurisdiction shall satisfy the requirements established in this section if that report
is reasonably similar in scope and effect to the Annual Safety Report required by
this Part 4.
C.
If an Online Dating Service has internal documents which contain the same
information required by the Annual Safety Report, the Service may provide those
documents to fulfill the report requirements along with an appendix which
references where the required information may be found in the documents.
Rule 4.03
Annual Safety Report Content
A.
At a minimum, the Annual Safety Report must include each of the following:
1.
The date the Online Dating Service most recently updated its Safety
Policy;
2.
The date the Online Dating Service most recently submitted the URL for
its Safety Policy to the attorney general’s office;
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cuments.
Rule 4.03
Annual Safety Report Content
A.
At a minimum, the Annual Safety Report must include each of the following:
1.
The date the Online Dating Service most recently updated its Safety
Policy;
2.
The date the Online Dating Service most recently submitted the URL for
its Safety Policy to the attorney general’s office;
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3.
Which of the following tiers the Online Dating Service belongs to:
a.
Tier 1: Greater than 10 million monthly active users during the
reporting period;
b.
Tier 2: Between 5 million – 10 million monthly active users during
the reporting period;
c.
Tier 3: Between 1 million – 5 million monthly active users during the
reporting period;
d.
Tier 4: Between 500,000 – 1,000,000 monthly active users during
the reporting period; or
e.
Tier 5: Less than 500,000 monthly active users during the reporting
period.
4.
Information about the enforcement of the Online Dating Service Safety
Policy during the reporting period, including:
a.
Enforcement metrics based on violations of the Online Dating
Service's Safety Policy within the reporting period, including the
total number of Members or accounts subject to Remedial Action,
the percentage of active users during the reporting period
represented by those Members or accounts, the Safety Policy
provisions violated, including violations involving Misconduct that
Threatens Public or Personal Safety, the type of Remedial Action
taken, and whether the Remedial Action resulted from a report from
another Member or proactive review or moderation by the Service;
b.
A summary of the process by which the Online Dating Service
notifies other Members who interacted with Members removed from
the Online Dating Service for violations of the Safety Policy,
including information about the number of Members notified,
disaggregated by type of reported content or conduct that resulted
in removal.
c
from
another Member or proactive review or moderation by the Service;
b.
A summary of the process by which the Online Dating Service
notifies other Members who interacted with Members removed from
the Online Dating Service for violations of the Safety Policy,
including information about the number of Members notified,
disaggregated by type of reported content or conduct that resulted
in removal.
c.
A summary of the forms of proactive review or moderation utilized
by the Online Dating Service, including what automation measures
are used by the Online Dating Service for enforcing its Safety
Policy, processing reports, or other measures taken to address
Member safety;
d.
A summary of the process the Online Dating Service uses to
prevent individuals who have been removed or banned for
violations of the Safety Policy from re-registering or creating new
accounts;
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e.
The number of Members or accounts which, during the reporting
period, were prevented from re-registering or creating new
accounts on the Online Dating Platform after being removed or
banned for violations of the Safety Policy, including the percentage
of active users during the reporting period represented by these
Members or accounts;
f.
If an Online Dating Service is owned or operated by a parent
company that owns or operates one or more additional Online
Dating Services, a summary of the process in place to ensure that
an individual who has been removed, suspended, or banned by an
affiliated Online Dating Service for violations of its Safety Policy is
subject to review before being permitted to create or maintain an
account on a different, affiliated Online Dating Service; and
g.
The number of individuals who, during the reporting period, were
prevented from creating or maintaining an account on the Online
Dating Service after being removed, suspended, or banned
violating the Safety of an affiliated Online Dating Service.
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its Safety Policy is
subject to review before being permitted to create or maintain an
account on a different, affiliated Online Dating Service; and
g.
The number of individuals who, during the reporting period, were
prevented from creating or maintaining an account on the Online
Dating Service after being removed, suspended, or banned
violating the Safety of an affiliated Online Dating Service.
5.
Information about the enforcement of the Online Dating Service’s policy
concerning criminal background screening during the reporting period,
including, if applicable:
a.
A summary of the Online Dating Service’s process regarding
Member criminal background screening;
b.
The number of criminal background checks conducted and the
number of individuals excluded from the Online Dating Service
based on the results of a background check;
c.
Whether individuals are notified when a criminal background check
results in their exclusion or suspension from the Online Dating
Service, and whether they may appeal the decision, including a
description of the appeal process and timeframes;
d.
Whether and how the service conducts periodic further criminal
background checks or ongoing monitoring of Members with existing
accounts, and under what circumstances (e.g., following a report or
periodically); and
e.
When and where the Online Dating Service provides disclosures
regarding their criminal background check policies outside of the
Safety Policy, and copies of or links to any such disclosures.
6.
Information on enforcement of the Online Dating Service Member identity
verification and age verification policies during the reporting period,
including, if applicable:
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Service provides disclosures
regarding their criminal background check policies outside of the
Safety Policy, and copies of or links to any such disclosures.
6.
Information on enforcement of the Online Dating Service Member identity
verification and age verification policies during the reporting period,
including, if applicable:
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a.
A summary of the Online Dating Service’s process regarding
Member identity verification;
b.
A summary of the Online Dating Service’s process regarding
Member age verification;
c.
The number of Members or accounts who were removed from the
Online Dating Service and the number of individuals not allowed on
the Service as result of identity verification conducted by the Online
Dating Service or their parent company or affiliates; and
d.
The number of Members or accounts removed from the Online
Dating Service and the number of individuals not allowed on the
Service as a result of age verification conducted by the Online
Dating Service or their parent company or affiliates.
7.
A high-level overview of the process and factors considered by the Online
Dating Service when deciding whether to take Remedial Action on a
Member report about prohibited content or conduct, and whether prior
reports or prior Remedial Actions involving the reported Member are
considered in that determination.
8.
Information on Member reporting and appeals during the reporting period,
including:
a.
The mechanism(s) for Members to report other Members for
prohibited content or conduct, including where on the Online Dating
Service the reporting forms are accessible;
b.
What type of notice or communication reporting Members and
reported Members receive throughout the reporting processing
period, including through any appeal process and upon resolution;
c
ring the reporting period,
including:
a.
The mechanism(s) for Members to report other Members for
prohibited content or conduct, including where on the Online Dating
Service the reporting forms are accessible;
b.
What type of notice or communication reporting Members and
reported Members receive throughout the reporting processing
period, including through any appeal process and upon resolution;
c.
The mechanism(s) for reported Members to appeal the report, if
any, including where on the Online Dating Service the reported
Member can submit an appeal and what information is required to
submit an appeal;
d.
The notices, communications, or limitations on an account or
appealing Member can expect while an appeal is pending, including
whether account restrictions remain in place until resolution;
e.
The number of Members or accounts who were the subject of more
than one Member report of prohibited content or conduct within the
reporting period, specifying the numbers of reports for Misconduct
that Threatens Public or Personal safety, and including whether
Remedial Action was taken after the first, second, or subsequent
report;
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f.
The number of reports of prohibited content or conduct the Online
Dating Service identified as knowingly false, malicious, or submitted
in bad faith, and whether any Remedial Actions were taken against
the reporter in response; and
g.
The average and median time between when a report of prohibited
content and conduct is received and when the Online Dating
Service takes final action or closes the report.
9.
Information on safety resources for Members provided by the Online
Dating Service, including:
a.
The locations and methods by which the resources required by
C.R.S. § 6-1-731.5(2)(i), are provided to Members;
b.
Whether and which resources required by C.R.S. § 6-1-731.5(2)(i),
have been developed in consultation with appropriate online safety
or dating experts or advocacy organizations; and
c
.
9.
Information on safety resources for Members provided by the Online
Dating Service, including:
a.
The locations and methods by which the resources required by
C.R.S. § 6-1-731.5(2)(i), are provided to Members;
b.
Whether and which resources required by C.R.S. § 6-1-731.5(2)(i),
have been developed in consultation with appropriate online safety
or dating experts or advocacy organizations; and
c.
The total number of Members who have accessed the resources
required by C.R.S. § 6-1-731.5(2)(i) during the reporting period.
10.
Information on the Online Dating Service’s policies and processes to
promote safer online and in-person dating experiences for Members,
including:
a.
A description of the safety measures the Online Dating Service
implemented as features of the Service to promote safer online and
in-person dating experiences for Members as referenced in C.R.S.
§ 6-1-731.5(2)(j), including which safety measures are on by default
and what risks the features were designed to address.
b.
Of the safety measures implemented as outlined 10(a), what
percentage of Members have engaged with those measures during
the reporting period;
c.
What, if any, controls Members have over the visibility of their
personal information, discoverability of their profile, or ability to
block other Members on the Online Dating Service;
d.
How a Member’s geolocation is used, if at all, and if Members can
control the use of or opt out of geolocation services;
e.
A summary of platform-wide Trust & Safety resources and
investments, including high-level information about the cross-
functional expertise that contributes to user safety;;
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on the Online Dating Service;
d.
How a Member’s geolocation is used, if at all, and if Members can
control the use of or opt out of geolocation services;
e.
A summary of platform-wide Trust & Safety resources and
investments, including high-level information about the cross-
functional expertise that contributes to user safety;;
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f.
A summary of training relevant to Member safety the Online Dating
Service trust and safety team receive, including but not limited to
appropriate training to assist or refer Members who have made a
genuine complaint or report to the appropriate support;
g.
A summary of the Online Dating Services’ process for responding
to requests for information from law enforcement; and
h.
A summary of when or under want circumstances the Online Dating
Service proactively refers Members, Member activity, or Member
complaints to law enforcement,
i.
The total number of Members referred to law enforcement during
the reporting period.
11.
Dates the Annual Safety Report was reviewed and approved.
Rule 4.05
Process to Submit Annual Safety Report
A.
Pursuant to C.R.S. § 6-1-731.5(4)(b), an Online Dating Service shall submit an
Annual Safety Report to the attorney general’s office on or before January 31,
2026, and on or before January 31 of each year thereafter.
1.
The first Annual Safety Report submitted to the attorney general's office Pursuant
to C.R.S. 6-1-731.5(4)(b) must include at a minimum the information required in
Rule 4.03 subparts (A)(1-3). If all information required by Rule 4.03 is also
included in this first report, no additional report is needed. If only the minimum
required information is included, a supplemental report containing all information
required by Rule 4.03 must be provided to the attorney general's office by August
31, 2026.
2.
All subsequent Annual Safety Reports must contain all information required in
Rule 4.03 on or before January 31 of each year thereafter.
B
included in this first report, no additional report is needed. If only the minimum
required information is included, a supplemental report containing all information
required by Rule 4.03 must be provided to the attorney general's office by August
31, 2026.
2.
All subsequent Annual Safety Reports must contain all information required in
Rule 4.03 on or before January 31 of each year thereafter.
B.
An Online Dating Service shall submit the required Annual Safety Report to the
attorney general’s office through the form available on the attorney general’s
website, located at https://coag.gov/dating-safety/.
PART 5
MATERIALS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Rule 5.01
Authority and purpose
A.
The statutory authority for the rules in this Part 5 is C.R.S. §§ 6-1-108(1) and 6-1-
731.5(4.5). The purpose of the rules in this Part 5 is to incorporate by reference
the guidelines that are referred to in 4 CCR 904-5, Rule 3.03.
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Rule 5.02
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines
A.
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, version 2.1 of June 5, 2018, from the
World Wide Web Consortium, are hereby incorporated into 4 CCR 904-5, Rule
3.03 by reference pursuant to C.R.S. § 24-4-103(12.5), and do not include any
later amendments.
B.
Copies of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines that are incorporated by
reference into these rules may be obtained by sending a written request to the
following address by U.S. mail:
Colorado Department of Law
Ralph L. Carr Judicial Center
1300 Broadway, 9th Floor
Denver, CO 80203
C.
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines published by the World Wide Web
Consortium incorporated by reference into these rules are available at no cost in
an electronic form online at https://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG21/.
D
y be obtained by sending a written request to the
following address by U.S. mail:
Colorado Department of Law
Ralph L. Carr Judicial Center
1300 Broadway, 9th Floor
Denver, CO 80203
C.
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines published by the World Wide Web
Consortium incorporated by reference into these rules are available at no cost in
an electronic form online at https://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG21/.
D.
The Colorado Department of Law also maintains a copy of the Web Content
Accessibility Guidelines that are incorporated by reference into these rules that is
available for public inspection at the Colorado Department of Law’s office during
regular business hours.
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Editor’s Notes
History
New rule eff. 03/30/2026.
This is a copy of a public record, reproduced as it was published. It is not legal advice, and it may not be the version a court would rely on. Check the official source before you cite it.