The German government is calling for consistent action against Chinese online marketplace Temu over allegations of manipulative purchasing incentives. “Games, wheels of fortune, discount countdowns, etc. suggest incredible discounts and bargains,” State Secretary for Consumer Protection Christiane Rohleder told the German Press Agency in Berlin. “Temu is constantly offering new incentives to buy.”
There is a change from meeting needs to creating needs to an entirely new degree. The focus on a very young target group is particularly problematic. The EU Digital Services Act prohibits the manipulative design of online platforms. “It is therefore important that these regulations are now enforced,” Rohleder said.
Furthermore, comprehensive action against manipulative or addictive practices in digital offerings is necessary. The State Secretary for Consumer Protection spoke out in favor of a fundamental principle of ‘fair by design’. “As the Federal Ministry of Consumer Protection, we are committed to this during the revision of European consumer protection legislation.”
The German consumer ministry, led by department head Steffi Lemke (Greens), had already sharply criticized Temu. The background to this was a list of defects from the Federal Association of Consumer Organizations (VZBV). The consumer advice center is currently considering legal action against Temu.
Among the accusations from consumer advocates is that the platform confuses consumers and takes advantage of seemingly arbitrary discounts, questionable reviews and manipulative designs.
Temu defended itself against the allegations: “Many of our sellers are manufacturers who traditionally supply stationary stores,” a spokeswoman said. Use their suggested retail prices, which are based on those in stores, and mark up the savings accordingly. The inventory and purchasing updates also reflected the actual inventory status.
Source: Krone
I’m Ben Stock, a journalist and author at Today Times Live. I specialize in economic news and have been working in the news industry for over five years. My experience spans from local journalism to international business reporting. In my career I’ve had the opportunity to interview some of the world’s leading economists and financial experts, giving me an insight into global trends that is unique among journalists.
