NEW YORK CITY, New York: Tea, a controversial dating app that allows women to anonymously review and comment on their experiences with men, has confirmed a significant data breach affecting tens of thousands of user images.

The company disclosed that hackers gained unauthorized access to its systems, compromising approximately 72,000 images.

A spokesperson for Tea told Reuters over the weekend that the breach involved 13,000 photos submitted for identity verification — including selfies and official IDs — along with 59,000 images taken from user-generated posts, comments, and direct messages. The company emphasized that no phone numbers or email addresses were exposed and that the breach only affects users who joined the platform before February 2024.

"There is no evidence at this time that any additional user data was impacted," the company said in a statement. "Protecting Tea users' privacy and data is our highest priority."

Tea stated that users do not need to change their passwords or delete their accounts and added that "all data has been secured." The company said it has brought in third-party cybersecurity experts and is working "around the clock" to fortify its infrastructure.

The breach was first reported by tech news outlet 404 Media on July 25.

Tea, which launched with the mission that "women should never have to compromise their safety while dating," has grown rapidly in popularity. The app allows verified women to anonymously share Yelp-style reviews of men they've dated or interacted with. Some reviews include serious allegations, such as emotional abuse, coercion, or non-consensual behavior.

One user wrote in an Apple Store review that she discovered over 20 red flags about a man she had just started speaking to, including accusations of assault and secretly recording women. "I can't imagine how things could've gone had I not known," she wrote.

The app surged to the No. 1 spot on Apple's U.S. App Store as of July 24, driven by viral attention on social media. According to analytics firm Sensor Tower, downloads rose by 525 percent in the week of July 17 to 23. Tea claims it received over two million new user requests in recent days and now has a total of four million users.

However, the app has also drawn criticism for what some see as a form of digital vigilantism. A columnist for The Times of London described Tea as a "man-shaming site," writing that it relies entirely on anonymous users with no accountability. "With Tea on the scene, what man would ever dare date a woman again?" she asked.

Lawyers have also noted the legal risks for users. Attorney Aaron Minc said his firm has received hundreds of complaints related to Tea in recent weeks. "People are upset. They're getting named and shamed," he said. While U.S. law generally shields platforms from liability for user-generated content, individuals can still be sued for defamation or privacy violations.

Tea's rapid rise — and the backlash that followed — may have made it a target. "These sites create enemies. They put targets on themselves," Minc added. "It's not surprising to see them get attacked."