Data leak in men’s assessment app from the USA: data from users affected

The “Tea” app from the USA, on which women can obtain background information on men, has become the goal of a cyber attack. According to the company, around 72,000 pictures of users were compromised-including around 13,000 photos with ID documents and verification selfies, which should actually be deleted according to the data protection directive immediately after the verification. The app cannot be used in Germany. Among other things, 404 media reports.

In addition to the pictures According to the BBC report In a second leak, another 59,000 files with posts, comments and more than a million direct messages from 2023 to July 2025. The information was spread to 4chan, where a “hack and leak” campaign was called up, and other platforms.

The app, which, according to the operating company, counts 1.6 million users, enables research into potential dates, such as whether someone is married or, for example, was registered as a sex offender. Tea promises women tools for more security in dating, especially online dating, which often carries risks. Women can exchange experiences there via community and group chats. According to the operators, users can also check telephone numbers to “identify potential risks at an early stage”. It is also possible to share “red flags” anonymously – that is, warning signals.

Images not linked to contributions

According to the BBC, the company initially emphasized that none of the leaked images were linked to concrete articles in the app, which, however, is refuted according to 404 media. There is still no answer to another request.

The app was founded in November 2022 by software developer Sean Cook, the According to the app operators was inspired by his mother’s negative online dating experiences to develop the app. However, critics accuse the app of stigmatizing men.