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Tea Dating Advice App Faces Lawsuits After Data Leak Fuels Harassment Campaigns

Google removed crowdsourced maps that revealed thousands of users' locations after stolen verification images spread online.

Overview

  • The women-focused, anonymous review app remains available on the App Store and Play Store with red/green flags and paid image-search tools.
  • In late July, more than 70,000 images — including selfies and ID photos submitted for verification — were leaked and reposted on forums such as 4chan.
  • Harassers built websites, copycat apps and a voting game using the stolen data, while Telegram groups shared sexualized images and linked social profiles.
  • Two public Google Maps displayed roughly 33,000 markers tied to alleged users until Google removed them for violating anti-harassment policies.
  • Users have filed more than 10 class-action lawsuits, and the company says it is notifying affected people, offering identity-theft protection and bolstering security.