Tea, a women-only dating safety app, recently revealed that over 72,000 user images were exposed in a data breach. The leaked images include around 13,000 selfies and ID photos submitted for account verification, along with nearly 59,000 images from posts, comments, and private messages within the app. The breach affected data from users who registered before February 2024.
The incident came to light shortly after Tea went viral, gaining more than 4 million users in a matter of days. Tea confirmed that no emails, phone numbers, or passwords were compromised. However, cybersecurity experts warn that exposed images alone can still be exploited for identity theft, deepfakes, or other malicious uses.
In response, Tea has hired outside cybersecurity firms to investigate and has removed the compromised data from its systems. The company also says it has strengthened its security infrastructure since the affected data was collected.
The app’s core feature, which lets women anonymously flag men’s harmful behavior without allowing them to respond, has sparked both support and criticism. While some see it as a tool for safer dating, others raise concerns about fairness and potential legal issues.
