Privacy Advocacy Group Challenges Tech Companies Over Illegal Data Transfers to China

A prominent European privacy advocacy group has launched a comprehensive legal challenge against six Chinese technology companies, alleging systematic violations of data protection regulations through unauthorized personal data transfers to China.

The Austria-based privacy group NOYB (None of Your Business) has filed detailed complaints in multiple European countries against major tech platforms including TikTok, AliExpress, Shein, Temu, WeChat, and Xiaomi. The complaints specifically target what the organization describes as "unlawful" personal data transmissions that potentially expose European users to unauthorized government surveillance.

According to NOYB's legal team, the complaints fundamentally challenge these companies' data transfer practices, arguing that China's authoritarian surveillance infrastructure cannot guarantee the same level of data protection mandated by European Union regulations. The organization contends that Chinese companies have essentially no legal recourse to resist government data access demands.

The legal action highlights critical concerns about data privacy and international digital rights. NOYB's complaints emphasize that European data protection laws strictly limit cross-border data transfers, requiring comprehensive safeguards that prevent potential misuse by foreign governments or unauthorized entities.

Privacy lawyer Kleanthi Sardeli from NOYB stated unequivocally that transferring European users' personal data to China is "clearly unlawful" and must be immediately discontinued. The complaints request data protection authorities to order an immediate suspension of these data transfers and potentially impose significant financial penalties.

The legal documents reveal that none of the targeted companies provided required information about their data transfer practices when initially challenged. However, their own privacy policies acknowledge transferring user data to China, further strengthening NOYB's argument.

Potential consequences for these companies could be substantial, with potential administrative fines reaching up to 4% of their global annual revenue. For some companies like AliExpress and Temu, this could translate to penalties in the hundreds of millions of euros.

NOYB has strategically filed complaints in multiple European jurisdictions, including Austria, Belgium, Greece, Italy, and the Netherlands, to maximize regulatory pressure and ensure comprehensive scrutiny of these data transfer practices.

The legal challenge represents a significant escalation in European efforts to protect digital privacy and challenge what advocates see as systemic violations of user data rights by international technology companies operating within the European market.

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