EU charges Temu for failing to prevent sale of unsafe products
- The European Commission has charged Temu with breaking the EU's Digital Services Act.
- Temu was found to present a high risk of unsafe products being sold, such as small toys and electronics.
- This action highlights significant concerns regarding consumer safety and online platform responsibilities.
On July 28, 2025, the European Commission announced that it had charged Temu, an online shopping platform, with violations of the EU's Digital Services Act. The commission conducted an analysis and identified significant risks associated with the sale of unsafe products on Temu’s platform within the European Union, notably small toys and electronics that do not meet safety standards. Executive Vice President for Tech Sovereignty, Henna Virkkunen, stated that consumer safety online is paramount and emphasized that the regulations are the foundation for better protection and a fairer digital market for all Europeans. The implications of this investigation reflect a growing concern over consumer protection in a rapidly digitizing marketplace and underscore the responsibilities that online platforms have to their users. As part of the ongoing investigation, Temu has been alerted to several areas of concern, including addictive design, recommender systems, and transparency obligations. The company has been given a few weeks to respond to these charges, although the exact deadline remains unspecified. Fines could amount to 6% of Temu’s annual global turnover, should they be found in violation of EU regulations.