ISU rape, revenge porn cases tied to mobile dating app

Posted on September 15, 2017

By Howard Packowitz

NORMAL – Illinois State University Police are investigating an alleged rape and a case of revenge porn, both tied to the use of the mobile dating application Tinder and the picture-sharing app Snapchat.

An ISU crime advisory issued Friday night said police were told Thursday of an alleged sexual assault at a university-owned apartment building in the 300 of N. School St. in Normal.

Police said the reported attacker and victim, both ISU students, met on Tinder and communicated via Snapchat.

In the other case, reported last week, a student said a man she knows from Tinder and Snapchat tried to extort her by threatening to share nude pictures of her.

Police said there have been no arrests in either case.

The advisory warns sex crimes using Tinder are becoming a significant safety concern on campus.

Police also warn that sharing sexually explicit photos and videos without consent is a crime under Illinois’ recently-adopted revenge porn law, and is also subject to discipline from the university.

Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]

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