by Kunle Taylor

Nigeria’s data protection watchdog has launched an investigation into Chinese e-commerce giant Temu over alleged breaches of the country’s privacy regulations.

The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) announced on Monday that it is probing the fast-growing online shopping platform to determine whether its data processing practices violate the provisions of the Nigeria Data Protection Act.

In a statement, NDPC National Commissioner, Vincent Olantunji, said the investigation would examine whether Temu’s handling of users’ personal information complies with the 2023 data protection law, which mandates that personal data be processed in a manner that fully safeguards individuals’ rights and privacy.

“The investigation into Temu was triggered by concerns around online surveillance through personal data processing, accountability, data minimisation requirement, transparency, duty of care and cross-border data transfer,” Olantunji stated.

According to the Commission, the platform processes the personal data of approximately 12.7 million Nigerians, drawn from its estimated 70 million daily active users worldwide.

The NDPC also indicated that the probe could extend beyond Temu to include third-party processors and subcontractors involved in its data processing operations.

“Processors who engage in processing activities on behalf of data controllers without verifying their compliance with the NDP Act may be liable,” the Commission warned.

While the regulator did not disclose a timeline for concluding the investigation, it said appropriate measures would be taken if any violations of the Act are established.