The Vermont Statutes Online
The Statutes below include the actions of the 2024 session of the General Assembly.
NOTE: The Vermont Statutes Online is an unofficial copy of the Vermont Statutes Annotated that is provided as a convenience.
Title 9 : Commerce and Trade
Chapter 063 : Consumer Protection
Subchapter 008 : INTERNET DATING SERVICES
(Cite as: 9 V.S.A. § 2482b)-
§ 2482b. Requirements for Internet dating services
(a) An Internet dating service shall disclose to all of its Vermont members known to have previously received and responded to an on-site message from a banned member:
(1) the user name, identification number, or other profile identifier of the banned member;
(2) the fact that the banned member was banned because, in the judgment of the Internet dating service, the banned member may have been using a false identity or may pose a significant risk of attempting to obtain money from other members through fraudulent means;
(3) that a member should never send money or personal financial information to another member; and
(4) a hyperlink to online information that clearly and conspicuously addresses the subject of how to avoid being defrauded by another member of an Internet dating service.
(b) The notification required by subsection (a) of this section shall be:
(1) clear and conspicuous;
(2) by e-mail, text message, or other appropriate means of communication; and
(3) sent within 24 hours after the fraud ban, or at a later time if the service has determined, based on an analysis of effective messaging, that a different time is more effective, but in no event later than three days after the fraud ban.
(c) An Internet dating service shall disclose in an e-mail, text message, or other appropriate means of communication, in a clear and conspicuous manner, within 24 hours after discovering an account change to a Vermont member’s account:
(1) the fact that information on the member’s account has been changed;
(2) a brief description of the change; and
(3) if applicable, how the member may obtain further information on the change.
(d)(1) A banned member from Vermont who is identified to one or more Vermont members pursuant to subsection (a) of this section shall have the right to challenge the ban by written complaint to the Office of the Vermont Attorney General.
(2) The Office of the Attorney General shall review a challenge brought by a banned member pursuant to this subsection and, if it finds that there was no reasonable basis for banning the member, shall require the Internet dating service to take reasonable corrective action to cure the erroneous ban. (Added 2015, No. 128 (Adj. Sess.), § G.2, eff. Jan. 1, 2017.)
