A Year Later, Arkansas A.G.’s Court Battle Against Chinese-Owned Temu Continues

China,

It’s been more than a year since Attorney General Tim Griffin’s office filed a lawsuit against Chinese e-commerce platform Temu for allegedly violating Arkansas’ Deceptive Trade Practices Act — and it does not look like the case will be resolved very soon.

Temu is an online shopping platform launched in 2022, and many people see it as similar to Amazon or Walmart.com.

In 2023, Temu was reported to be the most widely downloaded app in the U.S., and its multi-billion dollar marketing campaign — which included an advertisement during the 2024 Super Bowl — has contributed to its success.

But as a Chinese-based tech company, the Arkansas Attorney General’s office has pointed out that security and privacy experts are concerned about Temu.

The A.G.’s lawsuit alleges Temu collects excessive user data — including users’ GPS locations and fingerprint data — risking potential access by the Chinese Communist Party.

The lawsuit also alleges that the Temu app is able to bypass phone security systems, potentially granting Temu access to a user’s private messages.

In the lawsuit, the A.G. says these concerns are compounded by the fact that Temu is owned by a Chinese company subject to Chinese laws — including laws that “mandate secret cooperation with China’s intelligence apparatus regardless of any data protection guarantees existing in the United States.”

In other words, the app may let Chinese authorities secretly collect sensitive data on U.S. citizens.

The A.G.’s allegations against Temu mirror allegations the A.G.’s office has made against TikTok — a popular social media platform that is also owned by a Chinese company.

The A.G.’s lawsuit against Temu has continued in court for the past year, and the judge presiding over the case has issued a briefing schedule indicating that attorneys for Temu and the A.G.’s office will continue filing arguments until late September.

Family Council is not aware of any attorney general in America who is doing more to hold tech companies accountable than Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin. Bad actors like the Chinese Communist Party should not be able to secretly harvest American’s private data. We appreciate Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin taking this issue so seriously in court.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

READ MORE

Harrison to Dedicate First Safe Haven Baby Box Today

Abortion, , ,

The following press release is from our friends at Arkansas Right to Life.

HARRISON – Harrison’s 1st and Arkansas’ 30th Safe Haven Baby Box will be dedicated at 1 p.m., Wednesday, July 16, at the Harrison Fire Department, 523 S. Pine St. The public is invited.

“Saving lives just got a little easier in Harrison, Arkansas, as our newest baby box will be blessed on July 16th. The newest addition represents a significant step forward in our mission to provide a safe and anonymous alternative to surrendering an infant,” said Monica Kelsey, founder of Safe Haven Baby Boxes. “Our new location will offer a secure and compassionate option for parents in crisis and help ensure every infant has a chance for a safe and loving future. Across the country, there are 358 Safe Haven Baby Box locations with 30 in Arkansas.”

Kelsey added, “The Safe Haven Baby Box in Harrison would not have been possible without the local advocates, the Knights of Columbus, who worked tirelessly to bring this resource to their community.”

Speakers at the event are Rose Mimms, executive director of Arkansas Right to Life, and Jerry Hogue of the Knights of Columbus. Father Ben Riley of Mary Mother of God Catholic Church will offer a blessing and remarks.

Safe Haven Baby Boxes was founded by Monica Kelsey on a mission to end infant abandonment. In addition to baby boxes, the organization provides a confidential National Hotline, 1-866-99BABY1. Twenty-four states have a Baby Box presence within their state. Kelsey shared, “We have seen time and time again that preparation can save and change lives. We never know when or where we will be needed, so it is crucial to have options for mothers in crisis. I am grateful for local advocates who take our mission to their community.”

Since 2017, 60 infants have been safely and legally surrendered in a Baby Box. The National Safe Haven Crisis line has assisted with more than 150 handoff surrenders. Each year the numbers increase with more baby boxes available across the country. Surrendered infants are adopted by families who have registered as foster to adopt. The Local Department of Family Services coordinates the adoption process.

–30–

Arkansas Right to Life is the state affiliate of the National Right to Life Committee, the oldest and largest pro-life organization. For more information, visit https://artl.org/.

READ MORE

Authorities Seize Kratom, Meth in Southwest Arkansas Raid

Drugs,

On July 2, law enforcement seized kratom and other drugs during a raid in Sevier County.

Officers from the Arkansas Sate Police’s 9th West Drug Task Force, the Sevier County Sheriff’s Department, and the DeQueen Police Department recovered 115 Grams of Methamphetamine, firearms, drug paraphernalia, and kratom while executing a search warrant.

Kratom is a dangerous drug that is often marketed as a dietary supplement. The federal government has advised public officials to prohibit kratom, and states like Arkansas have done so.

The Mayo Clinic has called kratom “unsafe and ineffective,” writing,

Poison control centers in the United States received more than 3,400 reports about use of kratom from 2014 through 2019. These included reports of death. Side effects reported included high blood pressure, confusion and seizures.

Last April, Arkansas lawmakers voted not to pass a bad bill that would have legalized kratom in Arkansas.

During his comments against the bill, Rep. Zack Gramlich (R — Fort Smith) described a seventh-grader who was caught using kratom and trying to sell it to other students at a school in his district a few years ago.

Kratom is a dangerous drug. We deeply appreciate our lawmakers and law enforcement officers who have worked hard to protect people from it.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

READ MORE