Tea app sparks controversy amid legal troubles and data breach

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — An app marketed as a safe way for women to navigate online dating is raising some concerns across social media.  

It is called the "Tea" app, and some have claimed to have suffered damage to their reputation due to posts made by users. What was created to provide a safer dating experience for women has since evolved into a platform raising security concerns. 

The Tea app's website states that the app was created in 2023 by Sean Cook, following his mother's experience of being catfished on dating apps.

The Tea app targets women and uses AI to provide features such as catfish image search, phone number lookups, and even background checks.

The app's website claims over four million women have anonymously posted pictures of men and shared their experiences with them. Users can also request details about a man's personal information, such as age, personality traits, and location. Based on the shared experiences, users can mark men's “red flags” or “green flags”.

Joseph Reyna says he has been falsely accused on the app and worries about what these posts could do to his reputation. He believes the app has lost its purpose.

Additionally, legal issues arose last month when the app experienced a data breach, exposing more than 72,000 images, including selfies and verification IDs.

Since the data breach, ten women have filed lawsuits against the app, claiming it was negligent in its data practices and breached a contract with its users. 

Ricardo Barrera, owner and lead attorney at The Barrera Law firm, says this breach violated several protection laws. He says several indications prove the Tea app to be illegal and unsafe. 

“Anybody out there, not only the women participating in this, but others participating in this, you simply need to know that the Tea app is not safe. The Tea app is not appropriate according to what it’s represented, and at this point in time, I don’t foresee the tea app lasting a long period of time,” Barrera said.

Barrera says minors have also been posted on the app and claims it has failed to adhere to child protection laws. 

Barrera adds that if one's information has been leaked or a minor has been uploaded, they should contact an attorney immediately to take action. 

We reached out to the Tea app, and they declined offering a brand representative for comment.