Dating App Tea Confirms Data Breach After Surge in Popularity

Tea, a San Francisco-based dating app designed for women to anonymously share information about men, confirmed on Friday that it suffered a major data breach. The company reported that approximately 72,000 images were leaked online, including 13,000 selfies and photo IDs submitted for account verification, as well as 59,000 images from posts, comments, and direct messages. Tea stated that no email addresses or phone numbers were exposed and that only users who registered before February 2024 were affected. The company said it has engaged third-party cybersecurity experts and is working to secure its systems, emphasizing that "protecting tea users’ privacy and data is our highest priority."

The breach comes as Tea experienced a surge in popularity, reaching the top spot on the U.S. Apple App Store and amassing 4 million users, according to the company. The app was founded in 2022 by Sean Cook, who cited his mother's negative dating experiences as inspiration. Tea markets itself as a tool for women to vet men they meet on other dating platforms, aiming to help users avoid deception or unsafe situations.

However, Tea has faced criticism for its approach. A columnist for The Times of London described the app as a "man-shaming site" and raised concerns about potential misuse and lack of accountability. Attorney Aaron Minc, who specializes in online defamation, noted an increase in complaints from individuals named on the app and highlighted the legal risks associated with sharing potentially false or defamatory information. While federal law generally protects platforms from liability for user-generated content, users themselves can face legal action for harmful posts. State privacy laws may also provide recourse for those whose images or personal information are shared without consent.

Tea advised users that there is no need to change passwords or delete accounts, stating that all data has now been secured.