House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Chairman James Comer and Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Information Technology, and Government Innovation Chairwoman Nancy Mace have launched an investigation into the TeaOnHer application. The lawmakers sent a letter to Xavier Lampkin, founder of Newville Media Corporation, requesting documents and communications related to the app’s processes, policies, and procedures.
“Based on our review of TeaOnHer, it appears that [the] application 1) allows and encourages anonymous users to post images and personally-identifying information about women, including minors, without their consent, 2) permits users to make harassing, abusive, defamatory, and sexually explicit comments about these women and minors, and 3) fails to provide a mechanism for such victims to access [the] platform to remove their images posted without their consent,” wrote the lawmakers.
The committee noted that TeaOnHer was designed for male users to anonymously share harmful content about women and minors while restricting those affected from accessing or reporting the material. Lawmakers also cited concerns over inadequate cybersecurity measures that have led to leaks of sensitive user data.
“Understandably, this harmful content has prompted ‘so many women’ to complain to the Apple App Store, which TeaOnHer’s X account flaunted and dismissed as ‘false narratives.’ Given the concerning and seemingly illegal content found on TeaOnHer harassing, abusing, defaming, and sexualizing women and minors, it appears that your application may be in violation of federal and state law,” concluded the lawmakers.
The full letter addressed to Newville Media Corporation is available online.
