It's an effort that even its supporters say is flawed. Even so, lawmakers in New Jersey are working on a plan to make online dating sites safer.

An Assembly committee has passed a measure that would force dating sites to tell New Jersey residents whether they do criminal background checks on would-be suitors.

While lawmakers who support the measure say it would force online dating sites to be more responsible about the safety of those using them, they also concede that dating sites can do little about those who give false names.

What's more, the sites can't use fingerprints to make sure people who seek dates online are who they say they are.

The plan is generally opposed by Internet companies, who believe such background checks are unreliable and may provide a false sense of security.