Chinese Tech Giants Face EU Legal Battle Over Secret Data Transfers to Beijing

Chinese Tech Giants Face EU Legal Battle Over Secret Data Transfers to Beijing

Data Privacy Concerns: EU Complaints and US Regulatory Actions

European Privacy Group Files Complaints Against Tech Giants
Privacy advocacy group None of Your Business (noyb) has filed complaints against major tech companies including TikTok, AliExpress, SHEIN, Temu, WeChat, and Xiaomi for allegedly violating EU data protection regulations. The complaints, filed across five European countries, challenge these companies’ practice of transferring user data to China, citing inadequate data protection standards and potential government surveillance risks.

“China’s authoritarian surveillance state cannot offer equivalent data protection to EU standards,” stated noyb’s data protection lawyer, Kleanthi Sardeli. The organization emphasizes that these companies must comply with Chinese authorities’ data access requests and operate without independent oversight.

US Regulatory Developments
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has taken significant actions:

1. General Motors:
– Banned from sharing driver data with consumer reporting agencies for five years
– Required to obtain explicit consent before sharing geolocation and behavior information
– GM has discontinued its “Smart Driver” program in response

2. GoDaddy:
– Ordered to implement comprehensive security measures following multiple data breaches
– Must address inadequacies in security practices, including software patching, authentication, and network monitoring

Children’s Privacy Protection
The FTC has strengthened COPPA regulations by:
– Requiring parental consent for children’s data processing
– Implementing stricter data retention policies
– Limiting data sharing with third parties
– Enhancing protection against targeted advertising

These developments reflect growing global concerns about data privacy and increased regulatory oversight in both EU and US markets.

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