Arkansas files lawsuit accusing Chinese e-commerce app It illegally collects personal data

Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin has filed a lawsuit alleging that Chinese e-commerce app Temu is “malware” that illegally obtains consumers’ personal information.

In a recent press release, Griffin called Temu a “data theft” company.

“Today, I filed a first-of-its-kind state lawsuit against Temu’s parent companies — PDD Holdings Inc. and WhaleCo Inc. — for violating ADTPA and PIPA,” Griffin said in a statement. “Although it is known as an e-commerce platform, Temu is functionally malware and spyware.”

Temu is an online marketplace operated by PDD Holdings, a Chinese e-commerce company.

Griffin alleges that Temu engaged in unfair trade practices that resulted in the unlawful disclosure of personal information of Arkansas residents.

Griffin noted that Temu had had problems in the past.

““In 2023, Apple suspended the availability of the Temu app in its digital app store, which sparked numerous investigations into the company’s activities, including an ongoing investigation by the US Congress,” he said.