From: noemail@none.com   
      
   Arizona is suing online retailer Temu, alleging the platform illegally   
    collects personal information and data from its customers.   
      
   Attorney General Kris Mayes, a Democrat, announced the case against Temu and   
    its parent companies PDD Holdings Inc., Pinduoduo Inc., on Dec. 2. Mayes   
    accused the company of “some of the worst violations of the Arizona   
    Consumer Fraud Act that I have ever seen during my tenure as the attorney   
    general.”   
      
   Mayes said her office conducted a forensic investigation and determined the   
    app collected a "shocking amount of sensitive data on its users," both   
    adults and minors, without their permission. That includes GPS location,   
    other apps on cell phones and account information, wireless internet   
    networks and access to the phone microphone, Mayes said.   
      
   Temu is also accused of deceptive and unfair trade practices, including   
    faking customer reviews, imitating legitimate branded goods and more. Mayes   
    said the China-based company uses malware and spyware and was potentially   
    sharing that data with the Chinese government.   
      
   The case filed in Maricopa County Superior Court seeks civil fines against   
    Temu and restitution for customers, among other penalties. Mayes said users   
    should consider deleting their account, uninstalling the app and using   
    anti-virus software to scan for malware.   
      
   “We are taking Temu to court to stop these practices, protect Arizonans’   
    privacy, and hold Temu fully accountable under Arizona law," Mayes said.   
      
   Temu has faced legal troubles in other states and recently from the federal   
    government.   
      
   In September, Temu agreed to pay a $2 million to settle a federal case   
    alleging the online marketplace didn't follow federal law that requires   
    disclosure of information about third-party sellers. The U.S. Department of   
    Justice brought the case alleging Temu's ownership company, Whaleco Inc.,   
    violated the federal INFORM Consumers Act.   
      
   That law requires online marketplaces to disclose information about   
    high-volume sellers and give customers a way to report suspicious activity,   
    and the DOJ alleged Temu did neither. It was the first case brought under   
    the 2023 INFORM act, which was meant to make online business more   
    transparent.   
      
   Arkansas filed a lawsuit against the company in 2024, alleging its sales   
    platform was a front to illegally gather data on consumers. Nebraska and   
    Kentucky followed suit earlier this year alleging the company was a data   
    harvesting operation. In response to the Kentucky lawsuit, Temu said in a   
    statement the allegations were unfounded and the result of misinformation   
    online.   
      
   The company also faced class action lawsuits in two states — Illinois and   
    New York — that raised similar claims.   
      
   From Arizona Republic   
      
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