Tea App Hit by Major Data Breach, Exposing Thousands of User Images
Tea, a women-only dating advice app, has experienced a serious data breach that exposed around 72,000 user images online. The company confirmed the incident and said it only affected users who registered before February 2024.
Hackers leaked about 13,000 selfies or ID card photos that users submitted during account verification. They also accessed 59,000 other images from posts, comments, and direct messages that users had shared within the app, even though the app didn’t allow public access to them.
Tea stated that the breach did not expose users’ email addresses or phone numbers.The data breach was first reported by 404 Media, which discovered that people on the online forum 4Chan had found a link to the leaked data. The forum users were able to view and access many files linked to the Tea app. The company stated that their investigation has found no evidence of other personal data being affected.
Tea created the app to help women make safer dating decisions. It allows users to share experiences about men they’ve dated or plan to meet through other platforms like Tinder or Bumble. The app includes features like AI-powered reverse image searches, phone number lookups, background checks, and even a map of registered sex offenders. v
Tea’s website and app store listing describe the platform as a supportive “sisterhood” where women share dating advice, personal experiences, and warnings to help each other stay safe. Tea recently shared on Instagram that it now has more than 4 million users.
This incident has raised serious concerns about data security on dating and social apps, especially those handling sensitive personal information. Even though Tea is working to resolve the issue, many users now feel concerned about their privacy and the safety of their data.
Also read: Data Privacy Act’s Rules on Children Draw Criticism from Experts
