Shein and Temu are facing intensified scrutiny in the US as Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton launches an investigation into Shein over alleged forced labour, unsafe materials, deceptive marketing, and data-collection practices. Meanwhile, Senator Tom Cotton is urging a federal probe into both companies for alleged intellectual property theft and the sale of counterfeit goods, calling them “Communist Chinese” platforms. Cotton says recent changes to US customs rules(removing the de minimis exemption for low-cost imports) provide an opportunity for tougher enforcement.
Shein says it will cooperate with Texas authorities; Temu has not commented. Both companies are also under pressure in Europe: the EU has demanded Shein curb sales of inappropriate products, and France is investigating Temu over harmful content accessible to minors.