Tea, a fast-growing dating app designed to prioritize women’s safety, has suffered a major data breach, with hackers reportedly stealing 72,000 user images, including selfies and private uploads.
The app, which allows women to anonymously review and comment on their dates with men, confirmed the breach to Reuters on Saturday (27 July). A company spokesperson said, “We detected unauthorized access to our systems. About 72,000 images have been exposed.”
Among the leaked data are:
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13,000 verification selfies and ID photos
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59,000 images from posts, comments, and direct messages
No Contact Info Leaked, But Privacy Concerns Run Deep
Tea reassured users that no emails or phone numbers were exposed and emphasized that the breach only affects accounts created before February 2024.
“We’ve engaged third-party cybersecurity experts and are working around the clock to secure our systems,” the company added in an official statement.
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The breach was first reported by 404 Media on Friday. Tea markets itself as a safe space where women can review their dating experiences anonymously, without the fear of retaliation. Its motto “women should never have to compromise their safety while dating” has resonated with a growing user base. In fact, the app claims over two million women have recently requested to join.
To gain access, users must complete a verification process that involves uploading selfies and identification documents. The company claims these are deleted after review, but the breach raises serious questions about how securely that data was handled.
What This dating app data breach Means for Users
While no direct contact information was leaked, the exposure of photos tied to personal experiences and sensitive discussions is a blow to users who trusted the app’s privacy standards.
Cybersecurity experts warn that even seemingly non-identifiable data can be pieced together, creating doxxing risks or harassment threats, especially for a platform built around anonymity.
