Tea app hit with lawsuits after data breach exposes 72,000 images and private messages
Both lawsuits, filed in the Northern District of California, allege that Tea failed to adequately protect user information. The leaked data reportedly included selfies, government IDs submitted for verification, and personal conversations.
One lawsuit, filed on behalf of Griselda Reyes, accuses Tea of negligence and breach of implied contract. 'I think they were just sloppy,' said lead attorney Scott Cole, noting the app's rapid viral growth may have outpaced its security infrastructure. The suit seeks damages and demands that Tea implement better encryption and delete stored user data.
The second lawsuit, filed on behalf of an anonymous Jane Doe, describes an even more disturbing scenario. Doe claims she used the app to anonymously warn others about a local sexual predator, believing her identity and submitted documents would be kept private. Instead, the suit claims, Tea "broke every one of those promises."
This second suit also names social platforms X (formerly Twitter) and 4chan, accusing them of allowing the stolen data to spread further.
A Tea spokesperson has said the company is identifying affected users and will provide free identity protection. However, legal experts suggest additional lawsuits may follow as more users come forward.
The Tea app recently reached the No. 1 spot in the Apple App Store before dropping to second behind ChatGPT. Its features include anonymous reviews, dating advice, and premium services like background checks and reverse image searches.
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