Tea App Data Breach Exposes User Images

Tea (app), a dating app designed for women to anonymously discuss men, experienced a major data breach. Approximately 72,000 images, including 13,000 selfies and photo identifications used for account verification, were leaked online. An additional 59,000 publicly viewable images from posts, comments, and direct messages were also accessed without authorization. The breach primarily affected users who signed up before February 2024, with the compromised data stemming from a legacy storage system retained for law enforcement compliance. Users on 4chan discovered and circulated the exposed database, leading to the widespread sharing of leaked images on platforms like X (social network) and Reddit. Tea (app) has engaged third-party cybersecurity experts to secure its systems and is investigating the full scope of the incident. The event has sparked significant backlash and raised concerns about data privacy, especially for platforms marketed as safe spaces.