Chinese online marketplace Temu announced on Saturday that it was withdrawing an advertising offer that allowed customers to earn coupons in exchange for giving up their personal data indefinitely.
The campaign launched this month in the UK and later in France, promising customers up to €100 in vouchers if they download the Temu shopping app and invite another person to sign up.
However, the terms of the offer state that Temu will have the right to use much of its customers’ personal data for life and without notice.
The British news website The Independent reported this week that the terms of the policy state that the use of photographs, names, likenesses, voices, opinions, statements, biographical information, and/or national origin or state for promotional or advertising purposes in any media worldwide. It was reported that the use of “is stipulated.”
Tem, which is owned by Chinese low-cost retailer Pinduoduo, said in a statement to AFP that its offer was “a great success in France, with many satisfied customers.”
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Despite this, it had been suspended in both France and the UK due to “misunderstandings about the scope of use of customer data”. Temu said all that was involved were “usernames and profile pictures.”
The company did not respond to inquiries about whether this promotional benefit is being used in other countries.
“Tem is committed to maintaining customer confidentiality,” the company said. “We do not and will not sell customer data.”
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Earlier this month, Pinduoduo, Temu’s parent company and Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba’s main competitor, reported a 90% increase in net profit to 60 billion yuan ($8.3 billion) in 2023.
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