Apple removes Tea and TeaOnHer from App Store

Tea, the online dating application that leaked users’ personal information — including driver’s licenses and chat logs — to a 4chan database, has now been removed from the iOS App Store.

According to TechCrunch journalist Sarah Perez, both Tea and TeaOnHer have been delisted from the iOS App Store.

Apple confirmed the apps’ removal to TechCrunch, saying it removed the Tea Dating Advice and TeaOnHer apps from the App Store as they failed to meet Apple’s requirements around content moderation and user privacy. The company also said it saw an excessive number of user complaints and negative reviews, which included complaints of minors’ personal information being posted in these apps.

Apple said it communicated the issues to the developers of the apps, but they were not addressed. 

Apple has removed the application(s) due to violations of App Guidelines 1.2, 5.1.2, and 5.6. These guidelines mandate the removal of objectionable content (including offensive, harmful, or inappropriate material), the protection of personal information (such as driver’s licenses, names, and addresses), and the prevention of excessive negative feedback for an application.