Hackers breach dating review app Tea, exposing 72,000 user images

A cybersecurity breach has hit the popular dating review app Tea, compromising 72,000 user images, including sensitive selfies and verification photos, the company confirmed Saturday.

The breach, which was first reported by 404 Media on Friday, was acknowledged by Tea in a statement shared with Reuters on July 26. According to a company spokesperson, hackers gained unauthorized access to Tea’s systems, exposing approximately 13,000 images submitted for account verification and an additional 59,000 images from user-generated posts, comments, and direct messages.

The company emphasized that no email addresses or phone numbers were compromised in the attack. Only users who registered with the app before February 2024 were affected, the spokesperson said.

Tea has engaged independent cybersecurity experts and stated that its teams are “working around the clock” to secure its infrastructure and prevent further incidents.

Founded on the principle that "women should never have to compromise their safety while dating," Tea offers a unique platform where women can anonymously review and comment on their dating experiences with men. Access to the app is granted only after a verification process, which includes submitting selfies and photo identification—a step the company claims helps maintain a safer community.

While Tea claims that verification selfies are deleted after review, the breach has raised concerns over data handling and user privacy on apps that cater to sensitive personal experiences.

The platform has surged in popularity in recent days, with over two million new users requesting access, according to a recent Instagram post by the company.