Florida law allows victims to pursue civil claims against dating apps if negligence contributed to the assault. Under premises liability and negligence principles, apps can be held responsible if they failed to implement reasonable safety measures. For instance, if an app ignored reports of a user’s prior abusive behavior or neglected background checks, this could form the basis of a lawsuit. Recent cases, such as those against Match Group (Tinder’s parent company), highlight this: In 2025, Sokolove Law reported ongoing lawsuits where victims alleged apps prioritized profits over user safety by not removing known predators.

Key Florida statutes support these claims. Florida Statute §768.81 addresses comparative negligence, allowing recovery even if the victim shares some fault (e.g., meeting in a public place). Additionally, the state’s sexual battery laws (Florida Statute §794.011) define assault broadly, enabling civil suits for damages like medical bills, emotional distress, and lost wages. Courts have ruled that apps aren’t immune under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act if their own actions (or inactions) enabled harm, as noted in analyses from Searcy Denney and Phillips Law Group.