Data watchdog nears completion of probe into Chinese e-commerce giants, results imminent

South Korea's data protection watchdog is nearing the completion of its probe into the Chinese e-commerce firms AliExpress and Temu over consumer data protection and will likely take actions soon upon its results, its chief said Monday. The investigation into the two companies "has been completed," Ko Hak-soo, the chairperson of the Personal Information Protection Commission, said during a regular briefing at the National Assembly. The investigation was prompted by growing concerns over data protection measures employed by Chinese online platforms, as their usage among South Koreans has been steadily increasing. "We will present our findings at the next general meeting where a decision will be made," he said. Initially, the commission had planned to conclude the investigation by mid-year. Ko said the delay was attributed to procedural reasons. He also mentioned the challenges faced during the investigation due to the short history of their operations in Korea and the limited records related to their busi ness activities. In April, the watchdog requested AliExpress, Temu and about eight other Chinese internet firms to faithfully comply with the South Korean law on personal data protection, as Chinese e-commerce firms have rapidly emerged as major players in South Korea. Source: Yonhap News Agency