Apple has taken down the controversial dating apps Tea and TeaOnHer from the App Store, citing violations of content moderation and user privacy requirements. The decision comes after a series of controversies and security issues surrounding the apps. Tea, which had been quietly operating since 2023, was pitched as a dating safety tool for women, allowing them to share personal details, Yelp-style reviews, and ratings of men they dated. However, the app faced criticism for invading men's privacy and potential defamation concerns. A data breach in the summer exposed 72,000 images, including sensitive user data. TeaOnHer, a rival app for men, also suffered security issues, exposing users' personal information, including government IDs and selfies. Despite the removals, copycat apps are gaining traction, raising questions about the effectiveness of Apple's content moderation policies and the ongoing challenges in ensuring user privacy in dating apps.
