There’s a new(ish) retailer in Australia’s online world, and it might be after more than just your money. The entry of China-based Temu to the Australian market has prompted questions about the type and amount of user data it is collecting.
Temu’s range of products and gadgets is wide, from lip gloss and water bottles to touchscreen watches and headphones. And most of these products sell for what appear to be bargain basement prices. Whether the quality of these products accords with those prices, I don’t know.
But perhaps more concerning than the quality of its merchandise is the depth of information it is harvesting from its customers. One source claims Temu’s harvest includes names, addresses, phone numbers, birthdays, pictures, and links to social media profiles. And security experts suggest that Temu is not exactly being transparent about what information it is collecting.
Who or what is Temu?
This is a question I found myself asking earlier this year. Seemingly out of nowhere, ads for Temu products began popping up on websites and apps I regularly used. There’s nothing unusual about that. New retailers turn up all the time. Many disappear without a trace just as quickly.
What struck me about Temu’s ads, though, was photos of the products themselves. At first glance, I was unable to discern what the products actually were. In fact, months later, I still can’t.
One of the earliest examples popped up on The Age’s online site early in June. Midway through a news article, this image appeared:
To this day, I cannot explain what any of these items are. And such was the suggestive nature of at least one of them, I dared not click on the link to find out.
A friend of mine was similarly incredulous when he saw the left-hand photo. “I see the ‘baboon’s arse’ padded cycling shorts are back in stock,” he posted alongside a screenshot.
My feeling is that these odd items were featured to pique curiosity and encourage clicks on Temu’s website. It appears to have been a successful tactic. Data from July indicates Temu had the fastest-growing online audience among Australian retailers earlier this year.
A quick jump onto Temu’s website this morning revealed more easily identified items such as women’s clothes, men’s shoes and musical instruments. But, of course, you’ll need to sign up and sign in to find out more and be able to buy.
Will you become a data martyr?
Is Temu different from any other retailer in the data they collect from you? Perhaps not, but the retailer has been cited by many security experts highlighting just how much data we give away. All in the pursuit of an online bargain.
The fact that Temu is owned by Chinese e-commerce giant PDD plays into concerns about personal data falling into the hands of the Chinese Communist Party.
Users are concerned that their personal information could potentially be misused or shared without their consent. That’s a fair concern, but is there anything you can do about it?
If you have the discipline and inclination, there is. RMIT cybersecurity expert Dr Arathi Arakala recommends buyers turn off location sharing when using apps such as Temu. They should also avoid logging in through personal social media accounts, and delete cookies and history after using the platform.
Dr Arakala also recommended setting up a dedicated email address for online shopping. This will prevent any data from your regular email address being accessed.
The advice for anyone considering purchasing through Temu is the same as it would be for any other retail purchase. Take appropriate precautions when sharing information, only share necessary data, and change your password regularly.
That will increase your chances of having a happy shopping experience and a merry Christmas.
Have you purchased any products from Temu? How happy were you with the experience? Let us know via the comments section below.
Also read: How online retailers trick you into spending more