Apple has removed two controversial dating apps from its App Store following a series of data leaks and privacy violations that led to hackers obtaining users’ driver’s licenses and private messages, TechCrunch reports.
The tech giant confirmed on Tuesday that it had removed Tea Dating Advice and TeaOnHer from the App Store in all markets after the apps failed to resolve serious issues with content moderation and user privacy. The removal came after Apple received what it described as “an excessive number of user complaints and negative reviews,” including alarming reports about the posting of minors’ personal information on the platforms.
Major security breaches trigger response
The Tea app, which rapidly rose to the top of the App Store this summer as a platform where women could anonymously leave reviews about men they met on dating apps, suffered a catastrophic data leak on July 25. As a result, 72,000 user images were exposed, including selfies and passport data used for account verification. The stolen data was later posted on the infamous 4chan forum, raising concerns about identity theft and harassment.
A secondary leak later showed that hackers had gained access to more than 1.1 million private messages containing sensitive discussions on topics including abortions, infidelity, and violence. TeaOnHer, a copy of the app launched by developer Xavier Lampkin, which allowed men to leave reviews about women, faced similar security vulnerabilities that led to the disclosure of verification documents and user email addresses within hours after its launch.
Apple cites rule violations
Apple told TechCrunch that both apps violated several App Store rules, including Rule 1.2, which requires apps with user-generated content to provide reporting and blocking functions for unwanted materials, and Rule 5.1.2, which prohibits apps from sharing users’ personal information without permission. The company also referred to Rule 5.6, stating that an excessive number of customer complaints and negative reviews violates Apple’s Developer Code of Conduct.