Chinese e-commerce giant Temu has faced backlash from customers after changing the terms of a cash giveaway promotion that required participants to give up significant personal data. The promotion, which went viral on social media, offered participants up to £50 in exchange for sharing the promotion with others.
Initially, Temu defended the terms as standard, but has since tweaked them due to concerns raised by customers and data privacy experts. The company stated that it only uses usernames and profile pictures for referral purposes and winner announcements, denying claims that it would sell customer data or create deepfake adverts.
Experts have criticized the promotion for requiring permission to use participants’ voice and biographical information, raising questions about the proportionality of such requests. Data protection laws in the UK require user consent to be freely given and specific, which may not have been met by the initial terms of the promotion.
The Information Commissioner’s Office continues to monitor the situation, stressing the importance of transparency and informed consent when collecting personal data. This incident highlights the growing concerns around data privacy and the need for companies to be clear about their data practices.
As apps and online platforms increasingly collect vast amounts of personal data, users are urged to carefully consider the implications of sharing their information in exchange for incentives. Ensuring that data practices are transparent and users fully understand how their information will be used is essential in maintaining trust and protecting user privacy in the digital age.