By Camillus Eboh
ABUJA, Feb 17 (Reuters) - Nigeria’s data watchdog has opened a probe into Chinese-owned e-commerce giant Temu for suspected data-law violations, the regulator said on Tuesday, a move that could usher in legal penalties in one of Africa’s biggest markets.
The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) said concerns over Temu’s data-processing practices - including online surveillance, opaque handling, cross-border transfers and possible breaches of data-minimisation rules, triggered the investigation.
The move comes amid rising global scrutiny of Temu’s rapid expansion.
NDPC chief Vincent Olatunji ordered the probe and warned that processors could be held liable for any non-compliance.
The company did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.
Last year, the agency fined Multichoice Nigeria, Africa’s largest pay-TV operator, 766 million naira ($565,990) for breaching data-protection rules.
Temu handles the personal data of about 12.7 million Nigerians and around 70 million daily users globally, the NDPC said in a statement.
Temu, owned by Nasdaq-listed PDD Holdings (PDD.O) , has expanded rapidly in Nigeria with an app-driven marketplace offering steep discounts on fashion, electronics and household goods.
($1 = 1,353.3800 naira)

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Nigeria's data protection authority has launched an investigation into Temu, a Chinese e-commerce platform, for potential violations of data protection laws. The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) raised concerns about Temu's data processing practices, including online surveillance and cross-border data transfers. This inquiry could lead to legal penalties as Temu manages personal data for approximately 12.7 million Nigerians. The NDPC's chief emphasized that data processors could face liability for non-compliance. Temu, owned by PDD Holdings, has rapidly expanded in Nigeria, offering significant discounts on various products.

- Nigeria's data watchdog, the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), has launched an investigation into Chinese-owned e-commerce firm Temu for potential data-law violations.  
- The inquiry focuses on concerns related to Temu's data-processing practices, including online surveillance and possible breaches of data-minimisation rules.  
- Temu, which manages the personal data of approximately 12.7 million Nigerians, may face legal penalties as the NDPC has emphasized accountability for non-compliance.

Nigeria opens probe into Temu over suspected data protection breaches