New dating app Tea sparks uproar over second data breach that ‘exposes cheaters’ as lawyer urges extreme caution
The women’s dating safety app Tea has suffered a second security breach, following a high-profile data leak last week.
The second breach, which was discovered by an independent security researcher and reported by 404 Media, found that hackers are able to access messages between users discussing abortions, cheating partners and even phone numbers.
Tea confirmed the incident in a statement posted on its social media accounts, saying it ‘recently learned that some direct messages (DMs) were accessed as part of the initial incident.’
‘Out of an abundance of caution, we have taken the affected system offline,’ the statement read. ‘At this time, we have found no evidence of access to other parts of our environment.’
The app, which is the subject of intense privacy debates, is marked as a safety tool for women and catapulted to the top of the U.S. App store last week. However, it had some people questioning the legality of it – and what they can do if they’re posted.
Last week, the app confirmed that hackers had breached a data storage system, exposing about 72,000 images of some users, including selfies and photo identifications to 4chan.
‘In response, we immediately took steps to contain the incident and launched a full investigation with assistance from external cybersecurity firms,’ a spokesperson told DailyMail.com. ‘We have also reached out to law enforcement and are assisting in their investigation,’ they added.
The app was created in 2023 by software engineer Sean Cook, and acts as a review site for women to post photos and information about dates they’ve been on. The site also pledges to donate 10 percent of profits to the National Domestic Violence Hotline.
Tea, which shot to popularity over the past week, was designed to allow women to post photos and learn information about their potential suitors online
However, now men who have been posted on the app, which claimed to have four million users last week on social media, are wondering what they can do legally to defend themselves – and for some, concerns surrounding the app started long before the data beach.
The sudden widespread popularity of the app had people concerned, kicking off debates over privacy and safety surrounding women’s safety on dates.
One man, who didn’t wish to disclose his name to DailyMail.com, was surprised – and concerned – to find himself the subject on the app.
‘My female friend sent me the post,’ the 30-year-old said. Although the New York based man said he has a ‘feeling’ who did it, it can’t be confirmed.
‘I was annoyed as I wasn’t sure who was saying what, and did not want future dates to see people saying bad things about me that weren’t true,’ he explained.
Although he is choosing to ignore the post, rather than getting it taken down, he said he does know of people emailing the app to have themselves removed.
‘I think it’s a pretty stupid app as the fun of dating is learning about someone and this takes away the fun of it,’ he said, adding several of his friends were also named on the platform.
According to San Francisco employment and defamation attorney Camron Dowlatshahi, there could be legal consequences from those using the app depending on what is posted.
‘People sharing stories about men on the Tea app should remember that defamation laws still apply, just like anywhere else online,’ he shared with DailyMail.com.
Last week, Tea confirmed that hackers had breached a data storage system, exposing about 72,000 images of some users, including selfies and photo identifications
One man, who didn’t wish to disclose his name to DailyMail.com was surprised – and concerned – to find himself the subject on the app (stock image)
He went on to explain that submitting a false statement that damages another person’s reputation, such as calling them an abuser, scammer or predator, they could be sued, even if they use a nickname.
‘Truth is always the strongest defense, but you have to be able to prove it,’ he warned.
Dowlatshahi added that privacy laws also come into play if users post personal information, photos taken in private settings, or anything that might count as nonconsensual intimate content.
‘Just because Tea markets itself as a safety app does not protect users from legal responsibility if their posts are false or invasive,’ he said.
For those who find themselves listed on the app, Dowlatshahi says they may have grounds for a legal claim if the post is false and harmful.
‘If you are posting, be thoughtful,’ he urged. ‘Stick to facts you can verify, avoid spreading rumors, and do not share personal info like someone’s phone number or address.’
