A recent report from the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) has highlighted the urgent need for action to address the threats posed by the Chinese budget online retailer Temu. The report, authored by Diane Rinaldo, a non-resident senior associate at CSIS’s Strategic Technologies Program, emphasizes that the current legislative measures targeting TikTok do not adequately address the broader issues related to Chinese-owned applications.
Rinaldo specifically points to Temu as a major concern, describing it as “an information-gathering spyware program masquerading as an e-commerce site.” The report references findings from Grizzly Research, which revealed hidden functions within Temu that allow for extensive data exfiltration without users’ knowledge.
Moreover, Rinaldo highlights a class-action lawsuit filed in Illinois alleging that Temu is loaded with tools to execute dangerous malware and spyware activities on user devices. The report warns that Temu’s data collection capabilities could potentially put user data at risk of being accessed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
To address these concerns, Rinaldo recommends expanding legislative measures to target all applications owned, operated, or affiliated with the CCP that pose a threat to American data security. Additionally, she suggests that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) investigate Temu for false advertising, scams, and privacy violations.
The report also underscores the importance of continuing President Joe Biden’s executive order aimed at protecting Americans’ sensitive personal data from adversarial countries like China and Russia. Recent actions by the Biden administration, such as proposing new rules to block data transfers to China, demonstrate a commitment to safeguarding national security interests.
In light of these developments, it is essential for policymakers to address the risks associated with Chinese-owned applications like Temu and take proactive steps to protect American data security and privacy. Please rewrite this for me.
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