Drummond files lawsuit against Temu for stealing Oklahomans’ data and deceiving consumers

OKLAHOMA CITY (May 11, 2026) – Attorney General Gentner Drummond has filed a lawsuit against Temu, the Chinese online shopping platform, for unlawful data collection, violations of customers’ privacy and the counterfeiting of some of Oklahoma’s most iconic brands.

The lawsuit, filed last Wednesday in Cleveland County District Court, alleges Temu engaged in deceptive and unlawful business practices designed to mislead consumers while secretly harvesting sensitive user data for the benefit of entities tied to the Chinese Communist Party.

The complaint alleges that Temu:

• Illegally collects users’ data without their knowledge and consent; 
• Steals the intellectual property of U.S.-owned companies and institutions, including the Oklahoma City Thunder, Oklahoma State University and the University of Oklahoma; 
• Uses bait and switch signup schemes to lure users to invite their friends to the app in exchange for the promise of prizes and rewards that never arrive; and
• Fails to disclose to consumers its use of forced labor from Chinese ethnic minorities in clear violation of U.S. trade policies. 

Drummond emphasized that Oklahomans should not have to trade their privacy and security for lower-priced products. 

“Temu built its business model on deception, exploiting consumers while undermining American companies and exposing users to serious privacy risks,” Drummond said. “My office will not stand by while companies illegally profit from Oklahomans' personal data and deceive consumers.”

Temu’s mobile app rose in popularity to become the most-downloaded shopping app in the United States in 2023 on both Apple iOS and Google Android operating systems. The lawsuit details how the app secretly infiltrates users’ devices to access and harvest sensitive information including the user’s precise physical location, the phone’s microphone and camera, and the user’s private activity on other apps installed on the phone, all without their knowledge or consent.

“Oklahomans have a right to know when their personal information is being exploited and potentially funneled into the hands of a company with direct ties to Communist China,” Drummond said. “This lawsuit sends a clear message that Oklahoma will not tolerate companies using deceptive technology to spy on consumers and profit from stolen data.”