(NewsSpace.com) – There’s been a lot of concern lately about Chinese apps. First, TikTok came under serious scrutiny for its practices and ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). President Joe Biden signed a law that requires ByteDance to divest ownership or face a total ban. Now, a popular shopping app known for its dirt-cheap prices is getting a closer look.
On June 25, Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin (R) filed a lawsuit in Cleburne County Circuit Court against Temu for allegedly violating the Arkansas Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) and the Arkansas Deceptive Trade Practices Act (ADTPA). In a statement, he accused the company of being “a data-theft business that sells goods online as a means to an end,” saying the app is “functionally malware and spyware.” He went on to explain that it’s “purposefully designed to gain unrestricted access to a user’s phone operating system” where “it can override data privacy settings,” and uses the data it collects for monetary gain. The app, he says, is a serious security concern.
PDD Holdings, the company that owns Temu, previously had another app, Pinduoduo, temporarily suspended last year, after security concerns emerged. The company professes to be privately owned and moved from China to Ireland in 2023. However, some are concerned this isn’t true and note that China maintains strict control over all Chinese companies.
Griffin wants the court to issue an order enjoining Temu and its parent company’s violation of users’ privacy and deceptive practices. The lawsuit is seeking “monetary and equitable relief” and the imposition of civil penalties.
This isn’t the first time Temu, which offers millions of products at significantly reduced costs, has come under investigation. Apple suspended the app temporarily from its app store in 2023, which prompted multiple probes, including in Congress. The US has previously banned some Chinese technology due to national security concerns as well.
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