Overview

• Tea disabled its messaging feature in late July after separate breaches released 72,000 user images and 1.1 million private messages.
• The FBI and external cybersecurity firms are conducting forensic investigations into the extent of the data leaks and Tea’s security protocols.
• Two class-action lawsuits allege Tea failed to safeguard user data and neglected adequate privacy protections.
• Users and critics warn that unverified peer-sourced warnings have blurred the line between serious safety threats and minor compatibility issues.
• Advocacy groups and men’s rights forums have criticized Tea’s straight-women-only policy for excluding transgender users and perpetuating inequitable access.