Republicans on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI) Subcommittee are requesting a joint briefing from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Chinese Communist Party member-linked Temu and its parent company, Pinduoduo (PDD).
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.
PDD is subject to SEC purview because it is listed on the NASDAQ.
“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.”
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.
The hearing request was sent to FBI Director Christopher Wray and SEC Chairman Gary Gensler.