• Nigeria opened a formal investigation into Temu over alleged violations of its 2023 data protection law.
• Regulators said up to 12.7 million Nigerian users could be affected by the platform’s data practices.
• The probe follows a $32.8 million fine imposed on Meta in 2025 for data privacy violations.

Nigeria’s data protection regulator announced on February 16, 2026, the opening of an investigation into the Chinese e-commerce platform Temu over alleged breaches of the Nigeria Data Protection Act. The announcement marked a fresh test of the law adopted in 2023, which aims to tightly regulate the collection, processing, and transfer of Nigerian citizens’ personal data.

According to preliminary indications, the platform’s practices could affect up to 12.7 million Nigerian users. “The investigation into Temu was triggered by concerns relating to online surveillance through the processing of personal data, accountability, data minimisation requirements, transparency, duty of care, and cross-border data transfers,” the National Data Protection Commission said in a statement.

Nigeria, which has more than 200 million people and one of Africa’s most dynamic digital markets, is seeking to assert its sovereignty over personal data protection. The 2023 law imposes strict obligations on both local and foreign companies operating in the country, including explicit user consent, limits on data collection to what is strictly necessary, and safeguards governing transfers of data outside national borders.

For authorities in Abuja, the issue extends beyond a single compliance dispute. The government aims to send a clear signal to global technology companies that access to Nigeria’s market requires full adherence to national rules.

If regulators confirm violations, Temu could face financial penalties and binding compliance orders. Meta, the U.S. technology group behind Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram, faced similar sanctions in the recent past.

This article was initially published in French by Adoni Conrad Quenum

Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum