The House Intelligence Committee is seeking a briefing from the FBI and the Securities and Exchange Commission on Chinese Communist Party-linked e-commerce company Temu and its parent company Pinduoduo (PDD) amid concerns about the use of US data. .
Fox News Digital obtained a letter led by House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner, R-Ohio, and Rep. Darin LaHood, R-Ill., to FBI Director Christopher Wray and SEC Chairman Gary Gensler.
The lawmakers wrote about Temu and PDD, noting that PDD is listed on NASDAQ and “subject to the jurisdiction of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.”
“Many entities, ranging from US Senators to the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, state Attorneys General and countless others, have previously raised the alarm over Temu and PDD’s practices – starting from possible trade, slave labor and national security concerns”, they wrote.
In 2023, Google suspended the PDD app, arguing that it “exploited a zero-day vulnerability that allows them to surreptitiously take control of millions of end-user devices to steal personal data and install apps with the intent of bad”.
Lawmakers emphasized that they are “concerned about the protection of Americans’ data.”
“Analogous to Congress’ action on TikTok, the relationship between the Chinese Communist Party, Chinese national security laws, and Americans’ data must be understood,” they wrote. “We are concerned that the CCP has undertaken another attempt to exploit the democracy, free market principles, and personal and economic data of the United States.”
Lawmakers are now seeking a joint briefing by the FBI and the SEC on whether the bureau provided any information to the SEC about matters related to Temu and PDD.
Lawmakers are also seeking answers to whether any laws or policies are impeding the sharing of information between the intelligence community and the SEC, and more.
The letter was signed by every Republican member of the House Intelligence Committee.
“The relationship between Temu, their parent company PInduoduo, and the Chinese Communist Party’s national security laws raises serious concerns that the CCP has undertaken another effort, beyond TikTok, to exploit Americans’ data and undermine our democracy,” it said. LaHood for Fox News Digital.
LaHood said Temu “abused our trade laws” and warned that its Chinese ownership “has increased the risk to American consumers, with the potential to allow the transfer of private and sensitive data to foreign adversaries.”
“Given the widespread and growing public safety concerns about NASDAQ-listed Temu, it is critical that our federal partners at the FBI and SEC brief the Intelligence Committee to ensure that Congress conducts appropriate oversight of growing threats from the CCP,” LaHood said. .
The request for a conference comes amid concerns from officials in states across the country that allege “disturbing” collection of US consumer data and illegal forced labor practices.
Last year, the House Intelligence Committee disclosed “disturbing information about Temu’s failure to comply with US laws prohibiting the use of forced labor by Uyghurs.”
Temu, at the time, admitted that it did not have a policy to ban the sale of goods from Xinjiang, the site of the PKK’s ongoing genocide against the Uyghurs.
Temu also said it is not subject to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act.
Temu did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
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