The greatest single international threat to the United States is the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
Many Texans have interacted with the Chinese-owned app “TikTok,” and users know of the data security and privacy concerns that come with the social media app, which is why it was recently banned in the United States. Prior to that, Texas led the charge when Governor Abbott banned the app on any state-issued devices. Now a new threat with deep ties to the CCP lurks inside our app stores and on our phones: Temu.
Temu, the e-commerce giant owned by PDD Holdings and launched in the United States in September 2022, has seemingly flown under the radar from any backlash and regulation at the state or federal level. However, make no mistake, Temu potentially poses an even greater risk to Americans than TikTok.
I am sure you are asking yourself: How does an app that could get me a Cowboys jersey for $14 or a Texas flag for $5.50 threaten our national security? Well, much like TikTok, Temu aggressively harvests personal data in a variety of ways.
According to Fashion Dive, Temu has “wiretapped the electronic communications of its website visitors, and failed to alert customers of a data breach.” Similarly, a recent federal lawsuit alleges that Temu “is purposefully and intentionally loaded with dangerous malware and spyware activities on user devices … all while going to great efforts to intentionally hide the malicious intent and intrusiveness of the software.” Cybersecurity experts have warned that Temu utilizes permission of your, “camera roll, name, likeness, voice, opinions, statements, biological information, and your hometown and/or state.”
Temu’s sister app, Pinduoduo, has been removed from Google’s app store in 2023 for similar privacy and data security violations.
If these facts alone weren’t concerning enough, China’s 2017 intelligence law also forces Temu to hand over Americans’ personal data to the CCP whenever asked, giving them direct access to Americans’ sensitive information.
Unfortunately, thanks to prominent consumer manipulation advertisements that have escalated since the Temu Super Bowl ads most of us saw back in February, thousands of Texans are likely inadvertently exposing themselves to identity theft, data breaches, cyberattacks or even fraud if their information is passed on to third parties without their consent.
Fortunately, our state’s leaders have not been shy about exposing the threat that the CCP poses to our citizens. Whether it was banning TikTok on all official devices, limiting the sale of farmland linked to CCP individuals or entities, or introducing legislation that would require the federal government to evaluate threats to U.S. ports posed by cranes manufactured by foreign adversaries, our elected officials have consistently spoken out about the security threats we face from China.
Governor Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton should oppose Temu’s efforts with the same level of seriousness and resolve. As a starting point, General Paxton’s newly-formed Data Privacy and Security Unit should open up an investigation on Temu’s abuse of Texas consumers, and Governor Abbott should ban the Temu app on state-issued devices, just as he did with TikTok.
We have seen the damage other CCP-linked companies can do to our society, and our response to this one should be no different. Texas must lead the way in removing Temu from our state devices, secure our personal data, strengthen our security measures, and rid Texas of nefarious foreign threats.
James Dickey is the former chairman of the Texas Republican Party.