Nigeria’s data protection regulator has launched an investigation into Chinese-owned e-commerce platform Temu over suspected breaches of the country’s privacy laws. The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) said it is examining how Temu collects, processes, stores and transfers the personal data of Nigerian users. The probe focuses on concerns around cross-border data transfers, transparency, accountability and compliance with data-minimization requirements under Nigerian law.
The investigation was ordered by the NDPC’s National Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer, Vincent Olatunji, who warned that violations could attract sanctions under the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023. According to the regulator, Temu processes the personal data of an estimated 12.7 million users in Nigeria, while the platform records roughly 70 million daily active users globally. Authorities are assessing whether the transfer of Nigerian user data outside the country meets legal safeguards and approval requirements.
The NDPC also cautioned that third-party data processors could be held liable if they handle personal data for organizations that fail to comply with Nigeria’s data protection laws. Temu, owned by PDD Holdings, has expanded rapidly in Nigeria by offering low-cost clothing, electronics and household items via its mobile app. The company did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The investigation comes amid growing global scrutiny of Temu’s data practices as it expands across more than 90 countries since launching in the United States in 2022. Nigeria’s regulator has previously taken enforcement action against large firms, including a 2023 fine imposed on Multichoice Nigeria for data protection violations. Regulators say the outcome of the probe could shape how international technology companies manage user data in one of Africa’s largest and fastest-growing digital markets.
