It’s the shopping website known for selling super cheap goods, but from allegations of forced labor to claims of third-degree burns, could Temu be too good to be true?
Retailer Temu’s popularity rivals that of Amazon and Shein in the UK, but the Chinese shopping app is also shrouded in controversy.
Temu recently caused a stir by offering ‘free money’ for new sign-ups, with hundreds of people flooding the internet with screenshots of £50 being paid into their PayPal accounts. The promotion, which was perfectly legal, offered a combination of cash and store credit to new members, but the cyber security expert warned it could lead to people’s information being sold to advertisers.
“This app is effectively offering money – not free – but offering money in exchange for personal data and device data,” Jake Moore, Global Cyber Security Advisor at ESET, told the Daily Mail. “Data is the new currency and it has been around for a while. In extreme cases, it can also be used for identity fraud, because if that data is compromised, it can be very dangerous for those people who have provided their data. “
A company spokesperson responded: “We do not and will not sell customer data. Like many other companies, Temu uses various marketing strategies to attract new customers. Our cash reward program offers referral incentives – a common customer acquisition method used in the industry Some participants expressed concern about the Terms and Conditions of the promotion.
“To reassure our customers, we revised the T&C to clearly specify the minimum information used: usernames and profile pictures for referral notifications and winner announcements. The previous terms and conditions had inadvertently included promotional uses in which Temu not included.”
This is not the first time that Temu has come under criticism for its practices. The retailer’s prices are often a third of those of Amazon, with 15 million people in the UK alone downloading the app.
Tempting items currently on sale include a children’s dinosaur backpack for £1.29 and a pair of women’s walking shoes for £7.78. But a Channel 4 Dispatches documentary tonight has revealed dangerous levels of toxic materials in products including children’s clothing.
Last year, the parents of Chloe Norris, 11, claimed she suffered third-degree burns and needed a skin graft after using glue bought by Temu to make her fake nails. The shopping app launched an investigation and offered the Kent schoolgirl a £1,500 credit as a goodwill gesture.
Consignment program makers found items, including a child’s leather jacket, which cost just £11.09 and contained ‘absolutely unacceptable high levels’ of antimony, a semi-metal linked to breathing problems and lungs, heart and stomach. Temu said in response: “Our tests confirmed that some items exceeded acceptable limits for heavy metals. These items have been permanently removed and we are working with the merchants involved.”
In a further statement, a spokesperson added: “After being informed of the unfortunate accident where Chloe suffered burns after coming into contact with an adhesive product purchased from our platform, we immediately launched an investigation into the matter and removed the product from our site .the focus was on supporting Chloe and her family and we resolved the matter in a way that was fair and respectful to all parties involved.”
“Security is Temu’s number one priority. We immediately remove any relevant product listings pending a review and have a comprehensive verification, monitoring and enforcement process to ensure products meet platform rules and regulatory requirements.
“We value feedback from the public and the media, and our response to Channel 4’s Dispatches investigation demonstrates our serious and proactive approach to reports of potentially infringing or non-compliant products.”
Last year, US lawmakers warned that ‘extremely high-risk’ products sold on the website were made with forced Uyghur labor, referring to the oppressed ethnic group in China’s Xinjiang province. The retailer, which has more than 80,000 suppliers, has since said: “Claims that Temu’s competitive pricing is achieved through exploitative labor practices are unfounded.
“We are committed to ethical labor practices and our Third Party Code of Conduct prohibits any form of forced, child or criminal labor. Temu requires compliance with all local labor laws, including those related to with wages, working hours, voluntary employment, freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining We require strict compliance with all regulatory standards and reserve the right to sever ties with any business that violates our Code of Conduct or the law.
Deliveries will also reveal the obvious tricks that can lead to shopping app addiction, with flash sales, prize wheels and games found to give the shopper maximum enjoyment. “I think the Temu system is based on gambling technology,” said Conservative politician Iain Duncan Smith, who believes shopping apps should be investigated to see if stronger regulation is needed. “So instead of gambling on the outcome of something, they’re actually gambling in order to get a cheaper product.”
In response, Temu said the app’s games were inspired by ‘funfair and mall activities’. “Temu’s gamification elements, such as limited-time offers, prize wheels and interactive games, are inspired by activities at fun fairs and shopping malls. These features are designed to be enjoyable and provide value by allowing customers to unlock discounts,” the spokesperson said.
“As a newcomer to the UK, we have adapted our practices and design to suit local preferences and comply with relevant regulations. We are committed to working with stakeholders to address and improve aspects of our app.”
Watch The Truth About Temu: Dispatches tonight on Channel 4 at 8pm
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