Iranian matchmaking app removed by Google after allowing girls as young as 12 to register
The Jerusalem Post was able to locate profiles for girls as young as 13 being advertised for marriage. The profile also displayed a green notice indicating parental approval.
Google and Meta have removed the Iranian matchmaking app “Adam and Eve” following an investigation that revealed girls as young as 12 could register on the platform, according to reports from HRANA, a US-based human rights organization. Despite claiming it only served adults over 18, HRANA's report, titled "Child Marriage in the Digital Age," found that the app's search function even allowed users to filter potential spouses by age, including 13-year-old girls.
The app itself even publicized a 16-year-old bride marrying a 23-year-old man through the platform. Profiles advertising girls as young as 15 for marriage were also uncovered. While Google and Meta confirmed the removal of the app, the Iranian digital rights group Filterbaan had warned in July 2023 that Adam and Eve and several Telegram channels were promoting child marriages.
An investigation by Filterbaan found nearly 17% of Adam and Eve's profiles belonged to individuals under 18. The app's director reportedly ordered the publication of minors' profiles as part of an "Islamic marriage and an Islamic-Iranian lifestyle" starting in July 2023. Iran's minimum marriage age is 13 for girls and 15 for boys, with exceptions requiring a guardian's consent and court approval.
Despite global efforts to combat child marriage, it remains prevalent worldwide, with UNICEF reporting that one in five young women globally wed before their 18th birthday. Iran's Statistical Center recorded about 25,900 such marriages in 2022. Adam and Eve, licensed by the Iranian regime, is part of a growing number of government-authorized matchmaking services in the country.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
