Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit against Temu (PDD Holdings, Inc. and WhaleCo Inc.) for deceptive marketing practices and illegally harvesting Texans' personal data, which was then exposed to the Chinese Communist Party. The suit seeks monetary damages under the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, with potential penalties of up to $10,000 per violation and higher for seniors. This is part of a broader effort to hold CCP-aligned companies accountable.
The lawsuit seeks monetary damages under the DTPA, with penalties of up to $10,000 per violation and up to $250,000 per violation for violations targeting consumers aged 65 or older.
In-house legal teams should review all vendor, customer, and data processing agreements, particularly those involving data collection, marketing services, and international data transfers. Key clauses to scrutinize include data processing and sharing provisions, consumer consent mechanisms (especially for sensitive data), marketing and advertising representations, data security and breach notification requirements, data retention schedules, and cross-border data transfer mechanisms. Given the allegations of illegal harvesting and exposure to foreign entities, contracts may need amendments to mandate explicit, granular consent for data collection; prohibit transfers to jurisdictions without adequate safeguards (e.g., China); require robust security audits; implement clear opt-out mechanisms; and ensure all marketing claims are verifiable and non-deceptive to comply with the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act.
Entity
PDD Holdings, Inc. and WhaleCo Inc.
Also known as: Temu
Industry
TechnologyOfficial Press Release
https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/news/releases/attorney-general-ken-paxton-files-fourth-anti-ccp-lawsuit-three-days-suing-temu-deceptive-marketing
Petition 12
https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/sites/default/files/images/press/Petition_12.pdf
Texas Attorney General Enforcement Page
https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/consumer-protection/privacy
$7.5M
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced a $7.5 million settlement with Tris Pharmaceuticals over alleged misrepresentations about the efficacy of Dyanavel XR, an ADHD drug marketed for children. The release says the company overstated the drug’s efficacy and directed sales representatives to make misleading claims to doctors, including Medicaid providers.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced an agreement with Plum Organics requiring stronger testing and limits for heavy metals in covered baby food products, along with publicly accessible testing results. The release does not state a monetary penalty; the agreement follows an ongoing investigation into baby food manufacturers.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton opened an investigation into Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, its parent Health Care Service Corporation, and related entities over alleged denials or delays of urgent and medically necessary care and potentially burdensome prior authorization requirements. The investigation is ongoing; the Attorney General issued a Civil Investigative Demand to obtain information and assess potential violations of Texas law.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton issued a consumer alert warning Texas businesses and nonprofits about a surge of demand letters alleging California Invasion of Privacy Act (CIPA) violations based on common website technologies such as cookies, pixels, and analytics tools. The AG cautions that some letters may exaggerate or misrepresent violations and may be fraudulent, noting serial CIPA plaintiff Vivek Shah has been declared a vexatious litigant. Recipients are advised not to pay or respond directly, to consult privacy counsel, and to report suspected fraud to the Consumer Protection Division.
A Texas state district court (Judge Cory Liu) has found TikTok liable for lying to parents about the safety of its platform and for exposing children to inappropriate and explicit content, making Texas the first state in the nation to hold TikTok liable on these claims. The court found that although TikTok claimed it would remove graphic videos depicting drugs, nudity, alcohol, injuries, and profanity, such videos remained accessible to minors, even under 'Restricted Mode.' No penalty has been imposed yet; Attorney General Paxton will proceed to trial, expected next month, where relief and penalties will be determined.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton opened an investigation into TriWest Healthcare Alliance Corp., the U.S. government contractor that administers the VA Community Care Network and the Defense Health Agency's TRICARE West Region, over reports that it wrongfully denied health care claims by falsely treating insureds as having other health insurance (OHI). The OAG has issued Civil Investigative Demands (CIDs) and plans to interview consumers and employees to determine whether TriWest violated the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act. No findings or penalties have been imposed yet.