Republicans on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI) Subcommittee recently sent a letter to Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Christopher Wray and the Securities and Exchanges Commission (SEC) Chairman Gary Gensler regarding growing national security and personal data concerns surrounding Chinese Communist Party member-linked Temu and its parent company, Pinduoduo (PDD).
“We are concerned about the protection of Americans’ data,” the letter said. “Analogous to Congress’ action on TikTok, the relationship between the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), Chinese national security laws, and Americans data must be understood. We have concerns that the CCP has undertaken yet another attempt to exploit the democracy, free market principles, and the personal and economic data of the United States.”
There have been growing national security, trade, and personal data concerns surrounding the companies. There also have been concerns over business practices that include slave labor.
The congressmen request a joint briefing from the FBI and SEC. PDD is subject to SEC purview because it is listed on the NASDAQ.
There are multiple questions the congressmen would like answered during a briefing. Specifically, the legislators would like to know whether the FBI has provided the SEC with intelligence regarding issues concerning Temu and PDD, and if the SEC has requested intelligence about PDD and Temu, and, if so, what did the FBI provide.
State Rep. Darin LaHood (R-IL) is chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Subcommittee on NSA & Cyber and House Select Committee.