A dating safety app that provides women with tools to vet potential partners and anonymously report concerning behavior has suffered a significant data breach. Tea Dating Advice, a women-only platform in the US boasting 1.6 million users, reported unauthorized access to 72,000 user images, which included verification photos meant to ensure user safety.
The breach affected members who registered before February 2024, leading Tea to assure users they are addressing the situation with trusted cybersecurity experts. The app, which has gained popularity for its features like checking if men are married or have criminal backgrounds, has faced criticism for appearing anti-men. Critically, it helps women avoid “catfishing” through reverse image searches.
Moreover, the app allows users to share red flags about their dating experiences while highlighting “green flag” characteristics. Tea emphasized that the compromised images could not be linked to user posts and that their screenshot-sharing features protect content within the app.
In addition to the initial breach, a further 59,000 images were accessed, comprising posts, comments, and direct messages from the past two years. Tea has pledged to safeguard its community going forward. The app’s founder, Sean Cook, created it in November 2022 after observing the vulnerability of women in online dating, aiming to better protect users.
However, some critics argue that such platforms can infringe on privacy rights, exemplified by a legal case against Meta earlier this year over user defamation claims.
