07.11.2024 10:15:00
Дата публикации
The European Commission has launched a formal investigation into Chinese online platform Temu under the Digital Services Act (DSA).
Officials are concerned about the sale of potentially dangerous products that do not comply with EU standards, such as toys and cosmetics.
The Commission will also look into the company’s use of “gamification” to engage users. The Commission believes that such techniques can have a negative impact on their mental health.
The Commission will also look into Temu’s recommendation systems, which do not have an option to disable profiling.
The availability of platform data for researchers to track the removal of illegal products is also questionable. If violations are found, Temu’s parent company, Pinduoduo, could face fines of up to 6% of its annual turnover.
The rapid launch of the investigation is due to the fact that since May, Temu has been required to comply with the strictest DSA requirements, which apply to the largest online platforms. The European Commission has also previously launched a similar investigation into AliExpress.
According to the Commission, Temu has quickly conquered the EU market, prompting numerous inquiries from consumer organisations and national digital services coordinators that regulate the implementation of the DSA.
Customs and market surveillance authorities, which had previously expressed concerns about the safety of goods on the platform, have also joined the investigation.
In May, various consumer organisations filed coordinated complaints against Temu, accusing the company of violating the DSA. Since then, the European Commission has taken over supervision of the platform as one of the largest in its segment.
The European Commission is particularly concerned that Temu only temporarily removes illegal goods, as they are quickly put back on sale. It also raises questions about the risk assessment document the company submitted in September, which the Commission considers “too general”.
The Commission will also look into the issue of researchers’ access to Temu’s public data, which is one of the important requirements of the DSA. The EU consumer watchdog has backed the Commission's actions, calling for continued pressure on Temu to comply with the law as soon as possible.
The investigation, according to the EU, could be concluded if the platform proposes mandatory changes that can address the identified problems. The Commission reminds that sanctions will be applied in case of violations, but also stresses that regulators welcome cooperation from the company.
In response to the European Commission's statement, Temu noted that the company is committed to DSA compliance and is working to strengthen its security and consumer protection system. Temu is also in talks to join the Memorandum of Understanding aimed at combating counterfeit products on the Internet.
(the text is translated automatically)
Officials are concerned about the sale of potentially dangerous products that do not comply with EU standards, such as toys and cosmetics.
The Commission will also look into the company’s use of “gamification” to engage users. The Commission believes that such techniques can have a negative impact on their mental health.
The Commission will also look into Temu’s recommendation systems, which do not have an option to disable profiling.
The availability of platform data for researchers to track the removal of illegal products is also questionable. If violations are found, Temu’s parent company, Pinduoduo, could face fines of up to 6% of its annual turnover.
The rapid launch of the investigation is due to the fact that since May, Temu has been required to comply with the strictest DSA requirements, which apply to the largest online platforms. The European Commission has also previously launched a similar investigation into AliExpress.
According to the Commission, Temu has quickly conquered the EU market, prompting numerous inquiries from consumer organisations and national digital services coordinators that regulate the implementation of the DSA.
Customs and market surveillance authorities, which had previously expressed concerns about the safety of goods on the platform, have also joined the investigation.
In May, various consumer organisations filed coordinated complaints against Temu, accusing the company of violating the DSA. Since then, the European Commission has taken over supervision of the platform as one of the largest in its segment.
The European Commission is particularly concerned that Temu only temporarily removes illegal goods, as they are quickly put back on sale. It also raises questions about the risk assessment document the company submitted in September, which the Commission considers “too general”.
The Commission will also look into the issue of researchers’ access to Temu’s public data, which is one of the important requirements of the DSA. The EU consumer watchdog has backed the Commission's actions, calling for continued pressure on Temu to comply with the law as soon as possible.
The investigation, according to the EU, could be concluded if the platform proposes mandatory changes that can address the identified problems. The Commission reminds that sanctions will be applied in case of violations, but also stresses that regulators welcome cooperation from the company.
In response to the European Commission's statement, Temu noted that the company is committed to DSA compliance and is working to strengthen its security and consumer protection system. Temu is also in talks to join the Memorandum of Understanding aimed at combating counterfeit products on the Internet.
