Chinese e-commerce platform Temu has increased the scope of data required from its South Korean users to include addresses, phone numbers and customs codes. (Image from Temu webpage)
SEOUL, Feb. 21 (Korea Bizwire) — Chinese e-commerce platform Temu has increased the scope of data required from its South Korean users to include addresses, phone numbers and customs codes, its new policy showed Friday.
The updated privacy terms, which go into effect the same day, also require users to agree to transferring their data to a larger number of third-party companies both in South Korea and abroad for “efficient service provision.”
The development comes amid heightened concern in South Korea about the data collection practices of Chinese chatbot DeepSeek. Earlier this week the government said it has suspended new downloads of the DeepSeek app in South Korea until remedies are made.
Previously, Temu required users to agree to providing data only on overseas payments, but the new policy expands the scope to users’ personal customs clearance codes, transaction amounts, addresses, phone numbers, device information and data usage, among other things.
The collected data will be sent to 27 companies in six countries — South Korea, the United States, Singapore, Japan, Australia and Indonesia.
Last year, South Korea’s data protection regulator, the Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC), launched an investigation into data collection and usage by Chinese e-commerce platforms, including AliExpress and Temu, amid privacy violation concerns.
While the regulator imposed a fine of about 1.9 billion won (US$1.32 million) on AliExpress, it postponed a decision on Temu due to a lack of data on its business practices in South Korea.
A PIPC official said the investigation into Temu is in its final stage and the results will be out shortly.
(Yonhap)
