Nigeria opens probe into Temu over suspected data protection breaches

By Camillus Eboh

ABUJA, Feb 17 (Reuters) – Nigeria’s data watchdog has opened a probe into ‌Chinese-owned e-commerce giant Temu for suspected ‌data-law violations, the regulator said on Tuesday, a move that ​could usher in legal penalties in one of Africa’s biggest markets.

The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) said concerns over Temu’s data-processing practices – including online ‌surveillance, opaque handling, ⁠cross-border transfers and possible breaches of data-minimisation rules, triggered the investigation.

The move ⁠comes amid rising global scrutiny of Temu’s rapid expansion.

NDPC chief Vincent Olatunji ordered the probe ​and warned ​that processors could ​be held liable for ‌any non-compliance.

The company did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.

Last year, the agency fined Multichoice Nigeria, Africa’s largest pay-TV operator, 766 million naira ($565,990) for breaching data-protection rules.

Temu ‌handles the personal data of ​about 12.7 million Nigerians ​and around 70 ​million daily users globally, the NDPC ‌said in a statement.

Temu, ​owned by ​Nasdaq-listed PDD Holdings, has expanded rapidly in Nigeria with an app-driven marketplace offering steep ​discounts on fashion, ‌electronics and household goods.

($1 = 1,353.3800 naira)

(Reporting by ​Camillus Eboh. Writing by Elisha Bala-Gbogbo. ​Editing by Mark Potter)