Vulnerable people looking for love online should soon be better protected as dating apps, governments and police join forces to try to stamp out sexual violence.
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A roundtable meeting on Wednesday will aim to tackle the issue head-on.
Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth, who is hosting the meeting with Communications Minister Michelle Rowland, said she would discuss measures that could prevent abusive behaviour such as requiring background checks.
"Someone might not have been convicted of any crime, but they may be using inappropriate behaviour, inappropriate comments," she told ABC radio on Wednesday.
"How can we pick that up earlier, before a crime or abuse is perpetrated?"
Ms Rishworth said she wanted companies to start designing safety measures within their apps to ensure users were protected from harassment.
"The other area that we really need to get better at is making sure that those who have experienced violence have a say in how companies respond," she said.
Ms Rowland said sexual violence in the community was "devastatingly common".
"We know that women are more likely than men to experience online harm, particularly sexualised, violent and threatening abuse," she said.
Sexual violence includes online abuse such as revenge porn, sexual harassment, abusive language, threats and controlling behaviour.
eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said dating apps needed to take more responsibility for cracking down on bad behaviour.
"One of the big problems we see is recidivism, where perpetrators are permanently banned but are still able to create a new account using a different device or email address," the commissioner told AAP.
One in three people told the Australian Institute of Criminology they were subject to sexual violence from someone they met on a dating app, including sexual assault or coercion and revenge porn.
A woman dies at the hands of her partner every 10 days in Australia.
Deputy opposition leader Sussan Ley said technology could be a power for good and many people were happy after meeting partners online, but there were too many harrowing stories from women who used dating apps.
"We also know women who feel too ashamed to talk about their awful experiences on these apps when somebody has completely misrepresented themselves in a way that has damaged the psyche of women who trusted them," she told reporters in Canberra.
A spokesperson for Bumble Australia - a popular dating app - welcomed the opportunity to discuss online dating safety measures.
"We know that domestic and sexual violence is not only an enormous problem in Australia, but across the world, and that women, members of LGBQTIA+ communities, and First Nations are the most at risk," the spokesperson said.
The company already bans perpetrators of abuse and harassment from the platform, including taking action against members for unacceptable behaviours on other dating apps.
"Our core values of kindness, respect and inclusivity are at the centre of all the work that we do, and safety has been central to our mission from day one," the spokesperson said.
Australian Associated Press
