Arizona attorney general files lawsuit against Chinese online retailer Temu for alleged data theft

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes announced on Tuesday that the state has initiated legal action against Temu and its parent company, PDD Holdings Inc., accusing the Chinese online retailer of illegally collecting users personal information. Mayes stated that the app misleads consumers regarding the quality of its inexpensive products and gathers an alarming amount of sensitive data without user permission, including GPS locations and lists of other apps installed on devices.

The lawsuit highlights concerns that Temu, as a Chinese company, could be compelled by Chinese law to share user data with the government. It also claims that the apps code is designed to avoid security inspections. It can track your movements everywherefrom doctors offices to libraries, political events, and friends homes, Mayes said at a press conference. This represents an unprecedented invasion of privacy, potentially the most serious violation of the Arizona Consumer Fraud Act in our history.

Mayes also emphasized that the lawsuit seeks to protect local businesses from intellectual property theft, citing allegations that Temu has copied branding from entities such as the Arizona Cardinals and Arizona State University. Similar lawsuits have been filed in Kentucky, Nebraska, and Arkansas in recent years.

While federal lawmakers have considered measures to counter Chinese influence in technology and intellectual property, Mayes suggested that stronger federal action is needed to safeguard consumers. She described the alleged activities by Temu as even more severe than concerns previously raised about TikTok.

A forensic examination conducted in Arizona revealed that parts of Temus app code resemble malware or spyware, capable of extracting data from mobile devices while concealing its actions. Investigators also discovered large sections of previously prohibited code carried over from the apps earlier version.

Attorney General Mayes advised Arizonans to delete their Temu accounts, remove the app from their devices, and perform malware scans to protect personal information.

Author: Sophia Brooks