When apps leak our data, who is responsible?

(Illustration by Elena Lacey/The Washington Post)

By Tatum Hunter

A recent cyberattack exposed the sensitive personal data of thousands of women who used the Tea Dating Advice app to discuss and review men they date. A few days later, a California jury found that Meta wrongfully collected data from women using the period-tracking app Flo.

The steady drum of high-profile app hacks and leaks has become background noise for many consumers — in 2024 alone, 1.7 billion people had their personal data compromised, according to data from the Identity Theft Resource Center. Among the recent targets are genetic data company 23andMe, Microsoft’s workplace software and Tea, which explicitly billed itself as a safety app for women. PAID PROMOTED STORIES