Apple has frequently argued that it is reasonable for it to have monopolistic control over the sale of iPhone apps because it vets them for safety and security. This has been called into question over scam apps accepted into the App Store, and the same questions are being asked regarding the Tea app.
The so-called dating advice app has been revealed to have major security vulnerabilities, which have exposed private chats and personal data of tens of thousands of women …
Egregious security flaws in the Tea app
The Tea app claims to make dating safer for women by allowing them to share red flags for men they have dated or are considering dating.
Two major security flaws have been found in the app, exposing both private chats and personal data, which includes images of selfies and photo ID used to verify identities of users.
The exposed chat content makes it easy to identify both the users themselves and the men they are discussing.
Conflicting App Store safety claims
Apple has come under fire from antitrust regulators around the world for its monopolistic control over the sale of iPhone apps. It has justified this on the basis that the App Store is a “safe and trusted place.”
The company has been forced to allow third-party app stores in the EU, but has declined to make this change in the US or elsewhere.
Many people have pointed to the prevalence of scam apps in the App Store as evidence that Apple’s vetting process does not in fact ensure that the store is a safe and trusted place. A study back in 2021 revealed that scam apps make up almost 2% of the top-grossing apps in this store and have cost iPhone owners around $50 million.
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