News Article:

Leading Chinese e-commerce giant, Temu, has stirred controversy once again as it plans to air a Super Bowl advertisement during the highly anticipated game. However, lawmakers are calling on media companies Paramount and CBS to refrain from broadcasting the ad due to ongoing concerns surrounding Temu's alleged use of forced labor in its supply chain and accusations of customer surveillance.

Last year, Temu gained significant attention by airing a Super Bowl commercial just months after its founding. The advertisement showcased the company's low prices and encouraged shoppers to indulge in a shopping experience akin to that of billionaires. As a result, Temu rapidly became a prominent player in the e-commerce market, with its app being the most downloaded in the United States by the end of 2023 and boasting over 51 million monthly active users this January, a staggering increase of almost 300% year over year, according to data from Sensor Tower.

While the details of this year's Super Bowl ad remain undisclosed, it has already become embroiled in controversy. Temu aims to appeal to American consumers by positioning itself as the next "everything store" with prices lower than its competitors. However, lawmakers argue that the company utilizes forced labor in its supply chain and engages in unwanted surveillance of its customers.

On Wednesday, 11 Republican lawmakers sent a letter to the CEOs of CBS and its parent company Paramount, urging them not to air Temu's advertisement. The letter referenced the findings of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Community Party, highlighting Temu's alleged noncompliance towards illicit products entering the U.S. market and its failure to establish a system ensuring compliance with the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA).

The Republican lawmakers expressed their concern, stating that allowing Temu's commercial to air would be a detrimental move against the United States. According to the letter, it would be "a touchdown for the Chinese Communist Party against the home team." Notable signatories of the letter include Rep. Carol Miller, R-W.V., and Reps. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., Jim Banks, R-Ind., and Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y., among others.

Both CBS and Paramount declined to comment on the matter.

Temu, along with other Chinese apparel retailers like Shein, has been under investigation by the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party since May. While the presence of forced labor in cotton and other raw materials is an industry-wide concern, Shein, for example, regularly discloses information about banned cotton found in its products and shares the results of audits conducted on its manufacturers. Temu, on the other hand, has yet to provide such public data.

Congressman Blaine Luetkemeyer, R-Mo., a committee member, criticized Temu's upcoming ad, calling it "sickening." He voiced his hope that the advertisement draws attention to the questionable background of both Temu and its parent company, Pinduoduo. Luetkemeyer emphasized the need to shed light on the issue and stated that the flashy advertisement for Temu's cheap products is like "lipstick on the ugliest pig around."

In response, a Temu spokesperson dismissed the allegations, stating that the company's standards and practices regarding forced labor are no different from major e-commerce players such as Amazon, eBay, and Etsy. The spokesperson highlighted that all sellers on Temu must sign an agreement pledging to maintain lawful and compliant business operations, strictly adhering to local regulations and prohibiting the use of forced, penal, or child labor.

As the controversy surrounding Temu's Super Bowl ad unfolds, the decision of whether Paramount and CBS will choose to air the advertisement remains uncertain, leaving lawmakers and the public eagerly awaiting their response.