Tea App Hack Leaks 13,000 User Photos and ID Images in Major Security Breach
Hackers have ruined yet another app experience.
According to a report published by NBC News on Friday, the Tea app, pegged as a space for women to "safely talk about men," was compromised, and roughly 13,000 user photos and IDs were leaked across the internet. A spokesperson confirmed the leak to the news outlet.
The hacker reportedly accessed about 72,000 images, including 13,000 verification photos and government ID scans from a database from more than two years ago. “This data was originally stored in compliance with law enforcement requirements related to cyberbullying prevention, the Tea spokesperson said. They added that they hired third-party cybersecurity experts that are “working around the clock to secure our systems.”
It wasn’t long before Sexyy Red chimed in on the reported Tea app hack, sharing her thoughts on the situation via X, formerly known as Twitter.
"Tea app ain’t even last a week gahlee," she wrote alongside a pair of crying laughing emojis.
The Tea app essentially functions as the name suggests, allowing women to share photos of men, search them by name, and leave comments describing specific men as a "red flag" or "green flag."
Tea rose to popularity this week, becoming the top free app in Apple’s App Store. The app’s Instagram page reported on Thursday that it had reached 4 million users. Anyone looking to sign up for the app must upload a selfie to prove they are a woman. The app reportedly deletes the photos upon review. People are also blocked from taking screenshots of what's going on in the app itself.
Tea shared a response to the leak on Instagram on Friday addressed to "Tea App Users." "Please visit the FAQ at the link in our bio for the most up-to-date information. If you need additional support, please reach out to our team at support@teaforwomen.com," reads a caption underneath the post. "As always, we are committed to our original mission, to help women date safely. Thank you for being part of our community built on trust, safety, and care."
