Security Breach Exposes Thousands of User Photos in Women's Dating Safety App

A significant security breach involving the women's dating safety app, Tea Dating Advice, has resulted in the exposure of thousands of user images, including sensitive verification photos, amounting to major privacy violations. The company vows to take robust measures to protect its community.

A dating safety app designed to empower women has fallen victim to hackers, leading to alarming breaches of user privacy. The Tea Dating Advice app, a platform boasting 1.6 million female users, reported unauthorized access that exposed approximately 72,000 images, including sensitive identification verification photos that the app's privacy policy claims are deleted post-authentication.

The breach primarily affects users who registered before February 2024, prompting immediate action from Tea, which claims to be collaborating with top cybersecurity experts to navigate the fallout. As the app has gained popularity, it has also attracted criticism for purportedly being anti-male. Tea allows women to conduct thorough background checks on men, including verifying marital status and checking for registered sex offenders, as well as performing reverse image searches to combat 'catfishing.'

One of the app's most contentious features allows users to share experiences related to men they have dated, flagging behavior as either "red flags" or "green flags." Tea has asserted that the stolen images cannot be directly linked to any specific posts on the platform, thanks to features implemented to block screenshots. However, on Friday, the company disclosed that an additional 59,000 images containing posts, comments, and direct messages accrued over the last two years were also accessed during the breach.

The app's founder, Sean Cook, initiated the platform in November 2022, motivated by the challenges faced by women in online dating after witnessing his mother's experiences. He expressed deep concerns in a May interview, emphasizing the need for enhanced safety mechanisms on dating platforms. However, the app has faced backlash from both men and women, who argue that such group dynamics can lead to violations of privacy and potential defamation.

Earlier this year, the issue of privacy was highlighted when Nikko D'Ambrosio, a man mentioned in the 'Are We Dating the Same Guy' chat group, filed a lawsuit against Meta. The case, however, was dismissed by a federal judge in Illinois. The conversation around online dating privacy continues to spark debate, especially in light of recent legislation related to age verification on pornographic websites and escalating cybersecurity threats, including reported intrusions linked to state-sponsored Chinese groups targeting major tech corporations.