Synopsis
On Feb 22, 2023, China's Temu introduced new privacy regulations requiring South Korean users to consent to share personal data with third-party companies. This move raises significant concerns over data privacy amidst ongoing scrutiny of Chinese e-commerce platforms.Key Takeaways
- Temu's new policy mandates data sharing.
- Users must consent to share personal information.
- Concerns over Chinese data practices are rising.
- Investigation by PIPC is nearing completion.
- Data to be managed by 27 companies across six countries.
Seoul, Feb 22 (NationPress) Revised privacy regulations from the Chinese e-commerce platform Temu now mandate that users in South Korea consent to the transfer of their personal information to third-party firms within the country, according to the newly released policy.
These updated privacy regulations, effective immediately, will require users to provide their personal customs clearance codes, transaction amounts, addresses, phone numbers, device details, and usage data, among other information, to Temu's partners located in South Korea.
This change occurs amidst escalating worries in South Korea regarding the data handling practices of the Chinese chatbot DeepSeek. Earlier this week, the South Korean government announced a suspension of new downloads of the DeepSeek app until corrective measures are implemented, as reported by Yonhap news agency.
The data collected will be managed by 27 companies across six nations — South Korea, the United States, Singapore, Japan, Australia, and Indonesia — responsible for processing users' data.
A Temu representative stated, “The range of third-party companies receiving user data has been broadened to facilitate enhanced local services in South Korea, although the specific personal data shared with them remains unchanged.”
In the previous year, South Korea's data protection authority, the Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC), initiated an inquiry into the data collection and usage practices of Chinese e-commerce platforms, including AliExpress and Temu, due to concerns over privacy violations.
While a fine of approximately 1.9 billion won (US$1.32 million) was imposed on AliExpress, the decision regarding Temu was deferred because of insufficient data about its operations in South Korea.
A PIPC representative indicated that the investigation concerning Temu is nearing completion, with results expected to be published soon, according to the report.
