Tea App Removed from App Store: Apple Pulls Dating Safety App Over Privacy Concerns
In a major development, Apple removed the Tea Dating Advice app from its App Store in October 2025, citing failures to meet content moderation and user privacy standards. This action followed months of controversy surrounding data breaches that exposed tens of thousands of users' private information.
Key Takeaways
- Apple removed Tea from iOS App Store in October 2025
- Privacy violations and content moderation failures cited as reasons
- Data breaches exposed 72,000+ images and 1.1 million messages
- Existing posts may still exist on servers despite app removal
What Happened: Apple's Decision
Apple's removal of Tea Dating Advice from the App Store represents one of the most significant enforcement actions against a popular dating-adjacent app in recent memory. The app, which had reached the #1 spot on Apple's App Store charts in July 2025, was pulled after Apple determined it violated multiple App Store guidelines.
Timeline of Events:
- July 2025: Tea reaches #1 on App Store with 4.6 million users
- July 25, 2025: First data breach exposes 72,000 images including government IDs
- July 28, 2025: Second breach leaks 1.1 million private messages
- August 2025: Multiple class-action lawsuits filed against Tea
- October 2025: Apple removes Tea from App Store
Why Apple Removed Tea: The Violations
Apple cited multiple violations of its App Store Review Guidelines, focusing on two key areas:
Privacy Violations
- • Inadequate data security practices
- • Exposed government ID photos without proper safeguards
- • Failed to protect biometric data used for verification
- • Data stored in unencrypted databases
Content Moderation Failures
- • Insufficient review of user-generated content
- • Platform enabled defamation and harassment
- • No meaningful verification of accusations
- • Inadequate response to reported violations
Apple's App Store Guidelines Violated:
According to reports, Tea violated several sections of Apple's guidelines:
- Guideline 5.1.1: Data Collection and Storage - Apps must implement appropriate security measures
- Guideline 1.2: User Generated Content - Apps must have effective moderation
- Guideline 5.1.2: Data Use and Sharing - Privacy practices must be transparent
What This Means for Tea Users and Those Posted
Critical Understanding:
App removal does NOT mean posts are deleted. The app being removed from the App Store doesn't automatically delete existing content from Tea's servers. Posts about you may still exist and could resurface.
For Tea App Users:
- Existing users with the app installed may still be able to use it
- New users cannot download the app from the iOS App Store
- The app may still be available through other means (sideloading, web version)
For Men Posted on Tea:
- Your content likely still exists on Tea's servers
- Screenshots may have been taken before the removal
- Content may have spread to social media or other platforms
- DMCA takedowns remain effective for removing your copyrighted photos
The Data Breaches That Led to Removal
The App Store removal was the culmination of a disastrous security situation for Tea. In July 2025, the platform suffered two major data breaches within days of each other:
First Breach (July 25, 2025)
- • 72,000 images exposed
- • 13,000 verification selfies with government IDs
- • 59,000 images from posts, comments, and messages
- • Data discovered by 4chan users in an unsecured Firebase database
Second Breach (July 28, 2025)
- • 1.1 million private messages leaked
- • Sensitive discussions about infidelity, health decisions
- • Phone numbers and meeting locations exposed
- • Messages from February 2023 through breach date affected
Security experts noted that Tea "was not following basic cybersecurity practices" and that data was "stored in such an insecure way" that the breaches were essentially inevitable.
Ongoing Legal Consequences
The App Store removal is just one consequence Tea faces. Multiple legal actions are ongoing:
- Class-action lawsuits filed for negligent data security practices
- Illinois BIPA violations for collecting biometric data without consent
- California CCPA claims for privacy law violations
- Individual defamation suits from men falsely accused on the platform
What You Should Do Now
If You Were Posted on Tea:
- Document everything - Any screenshots or evidence of posts about you
- Check for spread - Search your name on Google, social media platforms
- Act on removals - DMCA takedowns still work for your copyrighted photos
- Consider legal action - Consult an attorney if false information damaged you
- Monitor ongoing - Set up Google Alerts for your name
Why Removal Services Still Matter:
Even with Tea removed from the App Store, professional content removal remains important because:
- Content may still exist on Tea's servers and could resurface
- Screenshots and leaked content may have spread to other platforms
- Google search results may still show Tea-related content about you
- DMCA notices create legal documentation for future actions
Conclusion: A Cautionary Tale
Apple's removal of Tea from the App Store represents a significant moment in the ongoing debate about platform responsibility, user privacy, and the dangers of anonymous review systems. While the removal limits Tea's growth and sends a message about accountability, it doesn't undo the damage already caused to thousands of individuals.
For those affected by Tea posts, the work isn't done. Content removal, reputation management, and legal action may still be necessary to fully address the harm caused by the platform during its period of rapid growth.
Key Takeaway: The App Store removal is vindication for those who raised concerns about Tea's practices, but it's not a complete solution. If you were posted on Tea, proactive steps are still necessary to protect your reputation.