Data watchdog wraps up investigation into China’s e-commerce giants, results imminent

Ko Hak-soo, chairman of the Personal Information Protection Commission, speaks during a news conference at the Government Complex Seoul, Monday. Yonhap

South Korea’s data protection watchdog is nearing the end of its investigation into Chinese e-commerce companies AliExpress and Temu over consumer data protection and will likely take action soon after the results of the investigation are announced, its head said on Monday.

The investigation into the two companies “has been completed,” Ko Hak-soo, chairman of the Personal Data Protection Commission, said during a regular briefing at the National Assembly.

The investigation comes amid growing concerns about data protection measures employed by Chinese internet platforms, as their use among South Koreans continues to rise.

“We will present our findings at the next general meeting, where a decision will be made,” he said. Initially, the commission planned to complete the investigation by mid-year. Ko said the delay was due to procedural reasons.

He also mentioned the challenges the investigation faced due to their short history in Korea and limited documentation regarding their business activities.

In April, the watchdog required AliExpress, Temu and about eight other Chinese internet companies to strictly comply with South Korea’s privacy law, as Chinese e-commerce companies quickly became major players in South Korea. (Yonhap)