Tea, a dating platform designed to give women a safer space to share dating experiences and reviews, has confirmed a serious data breach that exposed thousands of user images.
The breach, first reported by 404 Media and later confirmed by Tea to Reuters, involved the unauthorized access of around 72,000 images. This includes:
- 13,000 selfies and ID photos submitted by users during account verification, and
- 59,000 images from private chats, comments, and posts on the app.
User Information & App Safety Measures
Tea clarified that no phone numbers, emails, or passwords were leaked. The company mentioned that only users who signed up before February 2024 were impacted. Despite the seriousness of the incident, Tea stressed that the verification selfies are usually deleted once the review is complete.
The company stated:
“We have hired top cybersecurity professionals and are working nonstop to secure our platform. We take user privacy and trust very seriously.”
How Tea Works
Tea lets women sign up after confirming their identity with a selfie and a valid ID. Once verified, users can anonymously post reviews and feedback about men, similar to Yelp-style listings—aimed at making dating safer and more transparent.
The app has experienced a significant surge in popularity, particularly on platforms like Instagram, where it was recently reported that over 2 million people had signed up or requested access in just a few days.
Breach Impact & Industry Concerns
This breach has raised fresh concerns about privacy on dating apps, especially those that handle sensitive images and personal data. Cybersecurity experts note that apps relying on image-based verification must ensure robust encryption, faster deletion systems, and better breach alerts.
Tea has not yet said when or how the exposed images will be fully removed or if they have appeared elsewhere online.
