Arkansas Attorney General Has New Legal Counsel Take Over Lawsuit Against Temu

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Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin’s office has new legal counsel overseeing its court battle against Chinese company Temu for allegedly deceiving Arkansans and illegally accessing their personal data.

Temu is an online shopping platform similar to Amazon or Walmart.com. In 2023, Temu was reported to be the most widely downloaded app in the U.S., and its multibillion-dollar marketing campaign — which included a Super Bowl ad in 2024 — contributed to its success.

But as a Chinese-based tech company, security and privacy experts have raised concerns about Temu.

The A.G.’s lawsuit against Temu—first filed in 2024—argues Temu’s app secretly harvests Arkansans’ private information—including precise location, installed apps, online accounts, microphones, and cameras—and funnels it to servers subject to Chinese laws.

The A.G.’s team has also alleged that the Temu app is able to bypass phone security systems, potentially granting Temu access to a user’s private messages.

The A.G. maintains that all of this is unconscionable under the Arkansas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, which carries a penalty of $10,000 per violation.

Senior Assistant Attorney General Matthew Ford was the A.G.’s legal counsel on the case, but Mr. Ford withdrew last year after leaving the A.G.’s office. Earlier this month, Senior Assistant Attorney General Brittany Edwards filed paperwork with the court indicating she would be the attorney of record in the future.

It’s worth pointing out the A.G.’s allegations against Temu are very similar to points the A.G.’s office has made in its lawsuits against TikTok — another widely popular internet platform owned by a Chinese company.

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 must not be allowed to secretly harvest Americans’ private data.

We appreciate Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin’s office for continuing to pursue this case so seriously in court.

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

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Despite Cold, Arkansans March for Life in Little Rock

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Above: Gov. Sanders greats pro-lifers at the March for Life. Photo Credit: Arkansas Secretary of State’s Office.

On Sunday, Arkansans gathered in Little Rock to mark the state’s 48th annual March for Life.

The event highlighted Arkansas’ strong commitment to protecting innocent human life and the victories pro-lifers have achieved since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022.

Arkansas has earned recognition as the nation’s most pro-life state for six consecutive years. This achievement reflects the dedication of Arkansas’ churches, families, and lawmakers who have championed the sanctity and dignity of human life.

While celebrating these victories, speakers warned that the fight for life continues. Dr. Sharai Amaya, an obstetrician-gynecologist who spoke at the march, cautioned pro-lifers about abortion pills being mailed into Arkansas from states like New York and California.

“The threat of abortion is still crouching at our door,” she said. “I am talking about the threat of abortion pills.”

Attorney General Tim Griffin echoed these concerns, noting that despite “amazing strides” with the Dobbs decision, “the fight continues” as dangerous abortion drugs are shipped across state lines.

The march also featured Catherine Pressly Herring, who shared her powerful testimony about being secretly given abortion pills by her ex-husband. Her courage in speaking out last year helped Arkansas pass H.B. 1551 making it a felony to try to kill an unborn child by secretly giving a pregnant woman abortion-inducing drugs without her knowledge or consent. The bill passed without a single lawmaker voting against it and was signed into law by Governor Sanders in April.

As Arkansas maintains its position as America’s most pro-life state, events like the March for Life remind us that protecting innocent life requires ongoing commitment from churches and families all across our state.

Family Council appreciates our friends at Arkansas Right to Life who help organize this march every year. It’s a great opportunity for pro-lifers to gather and take a stand for the sanctity of human life in Arkansas.

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

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