TikTok, Xiaomi, Shein, AliExpress, and two other Chinese companies have been the subject of a privacy complaint filed by the Austrian human rights organization Noyb on January 16, 2025. The complaint states that the companies illegally transferred user data from the European Union to China, Reuters reports.
Previously, Noyb (None of Your Business) had only filed complaints against American companies such as Apple, Google's parent company Alphabet, and Meta. This is the organization's first complaint against Chinese firms.
The human rights group has filed six complaints in Greece, the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, and Austria. Noyb seeks to stop TikTok, Xiaomi, Shein and other companies from transferring European users' data to China, and also demands fines that could amount to up to 4% of the companies' global profits.
Noyb, citing transparency reports and other documents, notes that AliExpress, Shein, TikTok, and Xiaomi have all admitted to transferring European user data to China. At the same time, according to the documents on Temu and WeChat messenger, the data was transferred to an undisclosed "third country," probably also China.
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the Chinese government "has never required and will never require businesses or individuals to collect or provide data, information, and intelligence from other countries to the Chinese government in a manner that violates local laws."
A Xiaomi spokesperson said that the company is looking into the allegations and is ready to cooperate to resolve the issue. Other companies, such as Shein, TikTok, and AliExpress, did not comment on the request.
We would like to remind you that TikTok is also currently facing a ban in the United States, which could come into effect as early as January 19, unless the country's Supreme Court or future President Donald Trump decides to delay it. At the same time, the Chinese alternative to Instagram, Xiaohongshu, is gaining popularity among American users.