The House Intelligence Committee is asking for a briefing from the FBI and SEC about Temu, a Chinese Communist Party-linked e-commerce company, and its parent, Pinduoduo (PDD). They're concerned about U.S. data being exploited.
Fox News got a letter from Committee Chairman Mike Turner and Rep. Darin LaHood. The letter was sent to FBI Director Christopher Wray and SEC Chairman Gary Gensler.
They noted that PDD is listed on NASDAQ and falls under the SEC’s authority. Lawmakers mentioned previous alarms raised by various groups about Temu and PDD, including concerns over trade, slave labor, and national security.
In 2023, Google suspended the PDD app. They claimed it took control of millions of devices to steal personal data and install malicious apps.
The lawmakers emphasized their worry over the safety of Americans' data. They compared it to the ongoing concerns about TikTok and said they believe the CCP is trying to exploit U.S. data again.
They’ve now requested a joint briefing from the FBI and SEC to see if any intelligence has been shared about Temu and PDD. They also want to know if any laws are blocking that information sharing.
All Republican members of the House Intelligence Committee signed the letter. LaHood told Fox News that Temu’s connection to the CCP raises serious concerns, similar to the issues with TikTok.
LaHood warned that Temu is abusing trade laws and could be transferring sensitive U.S. data to foreign adversaries. He called for federal oversight to address the growing threat.
Concerns about forced labor and the collection of U.S. consumer data continue to rise. Last year, the committee found that Temu wasn’t following laws prohibiting the use of Uyghur forced labor.
Temu admitted they didn’t have a policy to stop the sale of goods from Xinjiang, where the Uyghur genocide is happening. Temu also claimed it wasn’t subject to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act.