The finding
Peoplarium checks a government ID and a live face, but lets members keep their face off their public profile. The research asked whether a badge can still say "verified".
Canada's Competition Act bans materially false or misleading claims. A claim is judged by the general impression it gives. Many dating apps verify by matching a selfie to profile photos, so people may read "verified" as "these photos show this face".
The research's answer: yes, if the badge says exactly what was checked. Use "Verified Real · ID checked" with an explainer. Never "photo verified", and nothing that looks like a government mark. Verification is taken up when offered: Feeld reached 38% of profiles verified within a year.
Why it mattered to the design
The badge reads "Verified Real · ID checked". Tapping it explains what it means and what it does not: not a background check, not a promise of safety, not a government certification, and the public photo may not be the face that was checked.
Before any ID capture, the member gives express consent on its own screen, as federal biometrics guidance expects. The vendor returns a badge; Peoplarium does not store ID images. Quebec law requires declaring a biometric database at least 60 days before it is used, so verification is switched off for Quebec at launch.
How it was checked
AI research agents reviewed Canadian advertising and privacy rules. We opened the Competition Bureau page and confirmed the general-impression test. The federal privacy commissioner's 2025 biometrics guidance confirms that biometrics are sensitive and generally need express consent. The Veriff case study on Feeld confirms the 38% figure. The Quebec 60-day rule was a gap the research missed; a law-firm bulletin on a Quebec regulator decision confirms it.
Sources
- Misleading representations and deceptive marketing practices, Competition Bureau Canada. Checked 2026-09-28.
- Guidance for processing biometrics – for businesses, Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada. Checked 2026-09-28.
- Building trust with the Feeld dating app, Veriff, published 2026-02-02. Checked 2026-09-28.
- Identity verification and facial recognition systems: key takeaways from a recent decision by the Quebec privacy regulator, McMillan LLP, published 2025-07-28. Checked 2026-09-28.
Not legal advice. Laws here are described as what shaped the design. Check with counsel in your own jurisdiction.