“DRIVERS LICENSES AND FACE PICS! GET THE FUCK IN HERE BEFORE THEY SHUT IT DOWN!” the thread read before being deleted.

Users from 4chan claim to have discovered an exposed database hosted on Google’s mobile app development platform, Firebase, belonging to the newly popular women’s dating safety app Tea. Users say they are rifling through peoples’ personal data and selfies uploaded to the app, and then posting that data online, according to screenshots, 4chan posts, and code reviewed by 404 Media.

  • gnu@lemmy.zipEnglish
    18330·
    2 days ago

    People sign up to app intended to share personal information about others without their permission, end up having their own personal information shared without permission - the irony is impressive.

    • Zomg@piefed.worldEnglish
      298·
      1 day ago

      I think it depends on people’s intent and purpose for using this service. I’m overall not a fan of someone taking and sharing pictures of me without my consent, or making claims that can’t be defended…

      The group of women legitimately using it for safety is fine, in a general sense.

      The group of women using it as gossip and entertainment is not.

      • DrSteveBrule@mander.xyzEnglish
        35·
        21 hours ago

        Considering that “tea” is common slang for gossip I’m not convinced there was many of the latter former.

      • lunardroid@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
        12·
        23 hours ago

        It makes sense using it for safety, but I would worry about whether all the information on there is accurate. Most of the feedback on the app is probably negative, I doubt anyone would really post anything on Tea that’s positive about their former partner. But people like to believe they are in the right. Someone who got in a fight with their partner might post something on Tea that isn’t accurate, but makes them feel better since they can spin the story how they want, and make the other person at fault. However, unlike regular social media, the person being attacked by their partner on Tea has no idea that it happened, and no way to refute what was said. It promotes the opposite of any type of communication between partners after a fight or breakup. It promotes safety, but at the same time it promotes some toxicity in relationships. What would you think if you knew that if your got into a disagreement with your partner that you could end up posted on this app, without any way of arguing back?

    • surewhynotlem@lemmy.worldEnglish
      1114·
      2 days ago

      At first I was going to call bullshit because I thought you were exaggerating and being ridiculous.

      Nope. That’s the app. “Anonymous” sharing of pictures and info of other people. Presumably without their permission. That’s fucked up.

      • blarghly@lemmy.worldEnglish
        579·
        2 days ago

        Yeah. I mean, I get it. The concept of the app makes sense. And I would be that, on average, it is/would be used for good.

        On the other hand, as a guy, the idea that people are out there sharing reviews of me as a person on the open internet, and I have no way of knowing this, is deeply unsettling. Like, I haven’t done anything wrong - just the whole concept feels very gross.

        • Donkter@lemmy.worldEnglish
          34·
          1 day ago

          Especially because the app is called “tea”, like the slang term for gossip. The letter of the intention may have been good but the whole thing is toxic.

        • surewhynotlem@lemmy.worldEnglish
          5·
          1 day ago

          My problem is how it’s implemented.

          An app where you simply post a name and a location, and then people can DM you with their experiences directly, would be a lot less invasive.

        • InFerNo@lemmy.mlEnglish
          10·
          1 day ago

          You could ask someone you know to register and share the login, it’s a flawed concept. There’s probably a bunch of partners in there who didn’t even know their boyfriend used their info to create an account to check on themselves.