Military leaders have decided to sever all connections with the Chinese-owned online marketplace Temu after an investigation uncovered potential security threats to soldiers' personal information. The Ministry of Defence discount service had been offering discount codes for Temu, a popular e-commerce platform known for its low-priced goods, despite concerns about data security.
Chinese app Temu under scrutiny
Temu, a Chinese app offering a wide range of products at discounted prices, has come under fire after it was revealed that up to 270,000 payroll records from Britain's armed forces may have been accessed by Chinese hackers. The app, which was downloaded 19 million times in the UK in 2023, is currently being investigated by the Information Commissioner's Office for potential data security breaches.
Parliament calls for investigation
The discovery has sparked outrage among Members of Parliament, with calls for immediate investigations into Temu and the contractor, Blue Light Card, responsible for the data security breach. Ex-Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith and Shadow Defence Secretary John Healey have both voiced concerns about the security implications of such breaches.
Ministry of Defence responds
In response to the investigation, the Ministry of Defence clarified that they do not select the companies that offer discounts through their service. A spokesperson for the Defence Discount Service, which manages the discount platform, stated that they have removed the offer for Temu while they review the allegations against the company.
Temu's parent company, PDD Holdings, based in Dublin but operating in China through subsidiaries, has not been accused of sharing data with the Chinese government. However, Chinese national security laws require companies to provide information upon request.
Temu has been contacted for comment on the situation.
