Temu Troubles: Arkansas AG Accuses Top Shopping App of Dangerous Data Practices

Hot Take:

Looks like Pokémon Go isn’t the only app trying to “catch ‘em all.” Only this time, it’s your private data instead of virtual creatures!

Key Points:

• Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin filed a lawsuit against e-commerce app Temu.
• Temu is accused of being malware in disguise, accessing extensive user data without consent.
• The lawsuit draws parallels between Temu and its sister app, Pinduoduo, which had similar allegations.
• Claims include Temu collecting more data than necessary and misleading users about permissions.
• Apple, Google, and Temu have not yet commented on the accusations.

The Data Hoarder

In a plot twist straight out of a cyber-thriller, Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin has accused e-commerce app Temu of moonlighting as a data-hungry malware. According to Griffin, Temu isn’t just helping you score cheap gadgets and trendy clothes; it’s also scoring full access to your phone’s data without you even knowing. Temu, which happens to be the most popular free shopping app on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, is now under the microscope for allegedly sneaking into users’ personal lives like a nosy neighbor.

Sibling Rivalry

Griffin’s lawsuit doesn’t stop at Temu. It also drags Pinduoduo, Temu’s sibling app, into the fray. Pinduoduo, another brainchild of PDD Holdings (which recently relocated its headquarters from China to Ireland), was previously suspended by Google Play Store for security breaches. Researchers have long suspected Pinduoduo of being a spy in disguise, exploiting users’ phone vulnerabilities to gain undetected access to their data. The lawsuit suggests that Temu might be following the same questionable playbook, but possibly with even more dangerous features.

Permission Slips? More Like Permission Trips

One of the spiciest allegations in Griffin’s lawsuit is that Temu misleads users about the permissions it requests. Imagine thinking you’re giving an app access to your location just for photo uploads, only to find out it’s tracking you 24/7. That’s the kind of sneaky behavior the lawsuit accuses Temu of. The lawsuit also claims that Temu covertly gains access to your device’s audio and visual recording capabilities, making it sound more like a James Bond gadget than a harmless shopping app.

Research and Rampage

The lawsuit draws on findings from Grizzly Research, a firm known for its in-depth investigations into publicly traded companies. According to the lawsuit, Grizzly Research found that the Temu app could hack users’ phones and override privacy settings. These are some serious allegations that, if true, mean Temu could potentially make your phone its playground, bypassing any barriers you thought you had in place to protect your sensitive information.

The Silent Treatment

As of now, Temu, Google, and Apple are playing it cool and haven’t responded to requests for comment. Maybe they’re busy plotting their next move or maybe they’re just hoping this blows over. Either way, the silence is deafening. For now, users might want to think twice before clicking “install” on that new shopping app promising unbeatable deals. After all, you might end up paying a higher price in privacy than you bargained for.

Need to know more? The overarching theme here is trust—or the lack thereof. With apps like Temu gaining popularity for their shopping convenience, it’s easy to overlook the potential risks. The lawsuit filed by Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin serves as a stark reminder that not all that glitters is gold. Sometimes, it’s just well-disguised malware. As the legal battle unfolds, it will be interesting to see if these allegations hold water and what repercussions they might have for Temu and other similar apps. Until then, keep your data close and your app permissions closer.