Nigeria’s Data Protection Commission (NDPC) said it is investigating Chinese-owned e-commerce company Temu amid concerns over its data protection practices.
“The investigation into Temu was triggered by concerns around online surveillance through personal data processing, accountability, data minimization requirements, transparency, duty of care, and cross-border data transfer,” the NDPC said in a statement published online.
The probe, ordered by NDPC chief Vincent Olatunji, comes as Temu expands rapidly in one of Africa’s largest markets. Olatunji warned that data processors could be held liable for non-compliance under the Nigeria Data Protection Act of 2023.
Based on preliminary inquiries, the NDPC said Temu handled the personal data of about 12.7 million Nigerians.
Temu has faced scrutiny in multiple countries over data protection, product quality, compliance and pricing. Last October the European Commission opened an investigation, saying Temu had not done enough to prevent the sale of illegal products; its EU headquarters in Dublin was searched later that year.
In the United States several states have accused Temu of breaching data protection laws. In December, Arizona alleged the app tracked users and could be compelled to pass data to Chinese authorities. “It can detect everywhere you go, to a doctor’s office, to a public library, to a political event, to your friends’ houses,” Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes said. “So the scope of this invasion of privacy is enormous.”
Edited by: Louis Oelofse