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17h ago

Tea App Breach Exposes Over a Million Private Chats

The Tea app has suspended messaging after a data breach exposed tens of thousands of ID photos alongside more than a million private chats.

Tea app logo and cyber binary codes are seen in this illustration created on July 26, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
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Overview

  • Security researcher findings show hackers accessed over 1.1 million direct messages dating back to early 2023 by exploiting a Firebase development platform vulnerability.
  • Earlier in July attackers also leaked about 72,000 user images from the app’s legacy storage, including 13,000 selfies and photo identification documents.
  • Tea has taken its messaging feature offline, notified affected users and pledged to offer free identity protection services.
  • The company has engaged third-party cybersecurity firms and reported the incident to the FBI, which has opened an investigation.
  • Two class-action lawsuits filed in the Northern District of California allege negligence, breach of implied contract and failure to delete verification data as promised.