Apple Removes Tea Dating Apps Over Privacy Violations and User Complaints

[cjsuk]

Can you not think of any reason why women would want to warn other women of specific men?

Rape in the United States - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Despite being a father of three daughters who get a lot of crap all the time from men, no. This should be handled by the police and courts. Warning people doesn't solve the problem. It doesn't even prevent it. It just pushes them to more vulnerable pools of people to go after.

 

[wanha]

Well that's pretty cut and dry, now isn't it?

Sure is.

And yet it took Apple 3 months since all of Tea's disastrous security breaches became public knowledge to do anything about it

 

[wanha]

The app sounds like a good way to get some dates by faking date reviews about yourself. Faking reviews is a hobby of me for over two decades. It is such a powerful tool.

the words you are looking for are "lying" and "misleading", and yes, they can be powerful tools for personal gain.

Not sure it's something to proudly announce to the world tho

 

[wanha]

The EU is proud to announce that these apps will be available on alternate app stores on the continent!

Consumers: 1, Apple: 0.

“Thanks EU!” - minors with personal information shared.

In all seriousness, here is a prime example of how opening up the app store will absolutely hurt real people.

this is true.

The other side of the coin is that Apple can unilaterally block any app they wish and without an alternative App Store, there's nothing we can do about it.

Apple removing the ICEBLOCK app is a prime example.

I'm not arguing for one or the other, but pointing out that a single point of control is a sword that cuts both ways.

 

[podycust]

Bit late now! Am sure it was back in the summer I heard about that app should have been removed months ago

 

[d686546s]

The EU is proud to announce that these apps will be available on alternate app stores on the continent!

Consumers: 1, Apple: 0.

“Thanks EU!” - minors with personal information shared.

In all seriousness, here is a prime example of how opening up the app store will absolutely hurt real people.

While a nice soundbite, anyone looking at the primary purpose of this app should have concluded in about three seconds that it would inevitably lead to the sharing of personal information without the permission of the data subject, including personal information of minors. How could it not if the whole idea is to enable people to share information about the people they've dated for the purpose of informing/warning others?

Which begs the question why the app was ever approved in the first place if Apple's gatekeeper role is to prevent this? How are there still copycat apps on the store?

 

[MilaM]

In all seriousness, here is a prime example of how opening up the app store will absolutely hurt real people.

Or you could read it as a major fail. The app was launched on the App Store in 2023. Why did it take them so long to pull it?

Apple's store is full of apps with shady business practices like that. I think it would actually be nice to have access to an alternative app store with a curated selection of high quality apps. Maybe we will get there some day.

 

[MilaM]

The app still violates Eu privacy laws so instead of just breaking some store policy it would be criminally liable 🤷‍♂️

Technically true, but who is going to go after them and how? Most of these apps don't have a EU footprint. EU data protection officers, even if they were interested in the case, probably could not even find an address to send the complaint to.

 

[Sophisticatednut]

Technically true, but who is going to go after them and how? Most of these apps don't have a EU footprint. EU data protection officers, even if they were interested in the case, probably could not even find an address to send the complaint to.

Well if they handle EU users they are prosecuted by any of the national authorities. The application has payments and is listed as a business.

If Apple can reach out to it then so would any other authority

 

[JustSomebody12]

and that it would have been been easy to make legal by allow for either(all)/all.

What do you mean by either/all?

 

[WeLikeVodka]

Wow this is one of the most idiotic app concepts I've seen in quite a while and is quite on par with red pill bs.

You don't get to harass others under the guise of safety or "oppression". Sounds a lot like what companies are doing in order to not let your device get repaired by a 3rd party. For the record I support the feminist cause and it's clear it's been infected by this silicon valley bs with everyone learning about social movements from tiktok and troll farms.

 

[WeLikeVodka]

The EU is proud to announce that these apps will be available on alternate app stores on the continent!

Consumers: 1, Apple: 0.

“Thanks EU!” - minors with personal information shared.

In all seriousness, here is a prime example of how opening up the app store will absolutely hurt real people.

I would blame American social media companies for enabling this in the first place. Apple and Google also have their own share of blame since they are hosting their apps for billions but at least you can say they're just "doing business".

This has nothing to do with the app store, it's just people refusing to take personal responsibility and young men and children are suffering because of this dumbass psyop app.

 

[Johnny907]

The user database was cracked almost two months ago, and Apple is only now pulling it from their store?
Wow. Thats some great management there.

 

[Unggoy Murderer]

GDPR to the rescue!
Most Americans don't realize that EU has _actual_ laws that protect its citizens. Like the GDPR, with hefty fines attached.

I reported a significant data protection issue to the UK ICO (who would enforce the GDPR under the Data Protection Act 2018). They did nothing, here's their response:

It's a farce. And this wasn't a small company, according to Companies House, their turnover was well into eight figures.

So yeah, if you want to break the law, do it in the UK as the regulatory body is toothless.

 

[Superhai]

Can you not think of any reason why women would want to warn other women of specific men?

Rape in the United States - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Because in 99% of cases it is not to prevent rape or other violence, but for petty bullying, revenge or own justification. It will most likely create a more toxic dating culture. Inexperienced and insecure people (what typically entails awkward and cringe behavior) is not connected to being rapist. Women (and of course also men) in violent relationships or who have been subjected to rape are usually reluctant to speak out about it unfortunately. As far as I have seen, rape figures did not improve after the app was introduced.

 

[Sophisticatednut]

The user database was cracked almost two months ago, and Apple is only now pulling it from their store?
Wow. Thats some great management there.

Well we know how much apple values user privacy and would never drag their feet on such important matters. They surely must have put all the resources at their disposal and they assure that it was approved with no privacy issues whatsoever.

I reported a significant data protection issue to the UK ICO (who would enforce the GDPR under the Data Protection Act 2018). They did nothing, here's their response:

View attachment 2571641

It's a farce. And this wasn't a small company, according to Companies House, their turnover was well into eight figures.

So yeah, if you want to break the law, do it in the UK as the regulatory body is toothless.

You should have told them they were writing some mean tweets and they would have been more helpful for their serious crimes. 😉

 

[bollman]

I reported a significant data protection issue to the UK ICO (who would enforce the GDPR under the Data Protection Act 2018). They did nothing, here's their response:

View attachment 2571641

It's a farce. And this wasn't a small company, according to Companies House, their turnover was well into eight figures.

So yeah, if you want to break the law, do it in the UK as the regulatory body is toothless.

In the beginning, there was quite a lot of confusion as to how every country should enforce this. Now, it has been a bit more "ironed out" and companies in Sweden that have suffered data breaches due to hacking are awaiting investigation.

 

[bsolar]

Can you not think of any reason why women would want to warn other women of specific men?

There are good reasons, but also a lot of opportunities for misuse.

Furthermore, one should always be wary of forming an opinion out of only one side of the story and I doubt this app gives the other party a fair opportunity to present their own side.

 

[Unggoy Murderer]

In the beginning, there was quite a lot of confusion as to how every country should enforce this. Now, it has been a bit more "ironed out" and companies in Sweden that have suffered data breaches due to hacking are awaiting investigation.

Oh this wasn't in the beginning, this was earlier this year.

 

[Karllake]

Can you not think of any reason why women would want to warn other women of specific men?

Reverse the genders and this app never gets approved. Just another screaming example of double standards that you obviously won’t recognise.

There are potential reasons for this app but it’s so obviously going to be abused that it should never have existed.

“Believe all women” how did that work out for the countless men who were accused and damned in the court of public opinion only to be proven innocent.

 

[Unggoy Murderer]

[...] You should have told them they were writing some mean tweets and they would have been more helpful for their serious crimes. 😉

Oh absolutely.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Not sure why the App Store is being held up as good here.

Revoke their certificate.

And to others points, this has been ongoing and approved by Apple to begin with and breaks privacy laws anyhow.

I’m really surprised anyone considers this an example of where authoritarian control of all App sources for Apple is “good”. All they had to do was fool Apple reviewers and they’re in like sin.

 

[justanotherdave]

The EU is proud to announce that these apps will be available on alternate app stores on the continent!

Consumers: 1, Apple: 0.

“Thanks EU!” - minors with personal information shared.

In all seriousness, here is a prime example of how opening up the app store will absolutely hurt real people.

Funny. This is one example (of many) I’ve given to the people who wrongly claim if you avoid 3rd party App stores you’ll be fine.

The privacy of anyone who interacts with a person using a 3rd party App that doesn’t respect these rules is at risk of having their personal information exposed without their consent.

It’s mind boggling people would claim your security/privacy isn’t affected by 3rd party Apps. It’s as ridiculous as claiming the Earth is flat.

 

[justanotherdave]

Not sure why the App Store is being held up as good here.

Revoke their certificate.

And to others points, this has been ongoing and approved by Apple to begin with and breaks privacy laws anyhow.

I’m really surprised anyone considers this an example of where authoritarian control of all App sources for Apple is “good”. All they had to do was fool Apple reviewers and they’re in like sin.

Authoritarian? Exaggerate much?

Apple can check for many things when an App is approved. One thing they can’t check for is moderation as it’s not something that exists in the code that you can simply test for (like using an unauthorized API).

Moderation typically relies on real people who can check content or review content that a user flags. There’s no way of knowing if a company has enough staff to handle moderation of x number of users until it goes live.

Your attempt to make this Apple’s fault because they didn’t properly “review” the App is asinine.

 

[d686546s]

Funny. This is one example (of many) I’ve given to the people who wrongly claim if you avoid 3rd party App stores you’ll be fine.

The privacy of anyone who interacts with a person using a 3rd party App that doesn’t respect these rules is at risk of having their personal information exposed without their consent.

It’s mind boggling people would claim your security/privacy isn’t affected by 3rd party Apps. It’s as ridiculous as claiming the Earth is flat.

Before we all get carried away talking about the risks of third party app stores, let's remember that while users were putting other's personal information on this app, and in return had their own personal information exposed, the app was available on Apple's App Store and on Google's Play Store. Where it currently isn't available is on any third party app store or directly on their website.

Reframing this as a risk posed by third party app stores feels a tad disingenuous.