The Federal Government has ordered an immediate investigation into the data processing activities of e-commerce platform, Temu, over possible violations of the National Data Protection Act.
The directive was given by the National Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of the National Data Protection Commission (NDPC), Dr Vincent Olatunji.
Olatunji said the probe was triggered by concerns bordering on online surveillance, accountability, data minimisation, transparency, duty of care and cross-border data transfer.
He disclosed that preliminary findings showed Temu processes personal data of about 12.7 million Nigerians, with an estimated 70 million daily active users globally.
The NDPC boss warned that data processors acting on behalf of controllers without verifying compliance with the law could be held liable under the Act.
He also raised concerns about whether certain app permissions are consistent with the basic function of online shopping.
According to Daily Trust, millions of Nigerians patronise international e-commerce platforms daily in search of competitive prices and product variety.
The newspaper further reported that sources within the NDPC said the commission is examining whether Temu’s access to users’ contacts, photos and location aligns with the simple act of buying and shipping goods.
