An Arkansas lawsuit did use the phrase “dangerous malware” to describe Temu, but that wording came from allegations in the attorney general’s complaint—not from a court ruling that Temu is malware or that it reads every user’s text messages.
The case raises a legitimate question for shoppers: what information does Temu collect, what permissions does it have on your phone, and what can you do if you no longer want the app to access it?
What the Temu lawsuit alleges
Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin filed the lawsuit on June 25, 2024, in the Circuit Court of Cleburne County, Arkansas. The defendants are PDD Holdings Inc. and Whaleco Inc., doing business as Temu. The case number is 12CV-24-149.
The complaint alleges violations of the Arkansas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, the Arkansas Personal Information Protection Act, and unjust enrichment. Among its most serious claims, the complaint alleges that Temu was designed to obtain access to a phone’s:
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It also alleges that the app could alter its properties after installation and override privacy settings. Another allegation says that people who do not use Temu could still be affected if their information appeared on a Temu user’s device.
Those are allegations made by the attorney general. The complaint itself does not establish that the current U.S. Temu app reads private SMS messages, changes its code to bypass phone security, or operates as malware.
Why the claim became associated with Pinduoduo
The complaint cited research from Grizzly Research and reporting about Pinduoduo, a Chinese sister app associated with PDD Holdings. Google suspended Pinduoduo from Google Play in 2023 after security concerns involving some versions of that app.
That history is relevant background, but it is not proof that the current U.S. Temu app contains the same malicious code or has the same capabilities. Temu rejected the allegations as misinformation and said it would vigorously defend itself, according to reporting by Ars Technica.
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What Temu currently discloses
App-store privacy information is not an independent security audit. It is primarily information provided by the developer, and the categories can vary by device, region, age, and how the app is used. Still, these disclosures show that Temu can collect a substantial amount of information connected with shopping and account activity.
| Source | What it currently says | What it does not prove |
|---|---|---|
| Google Play listing | Temu may share device or other IDs with third parties. It may collect location, personal information, and five other categories. The listing says data is encrypted in transit, users can request deletion, and an independent security review is listed. | It does not independently verify the lawsuit’s allegation that Temu reads SMS messages. |
| Apple App Store label | Developer-reported data may include contact details, identifiers, purchase and search history, diagnostics, payment information, location, address, photos or videos, customer-support content, and product interaction data. | Apple says the information has not been verified by Apple. The current U.S. label does not list SMS or text-message content as a collected category. |
| Temu U.S. privacy policy | The policy says Temu may collect account, order, payment, shipping, recipient-contact, device, advertising, browsing, search, purchase, cart, crash, performance, and approximate-location information. | A statement that Temu may send marketing texts is not the same as permission to read unrelated conversations in your SMS inbox. |
Temu’s U.S. privacy policy is marked “Last Updated: November 14, 2025.” It also says the company may send marketing emails, text messages, and push notifications, subject to applicable law and user choices. That describes communications sent by Temu; it does not by itself establish access to the contents of other text messages.
How to check Temu’s permissions on Android
Android’s permission screen can show which categories Temu is allowed to use. The exact labels may differ between Samsung, Google Pixel, and other phones.
- Open Settings.
- Tap Apps. If needed, tap See all apps.
- Select Temu.
- Tap Permissions.
- Select a permission and choose Allow or Don’t allow.
On supported Android devices, you can also review recent activity through Settings > Security and Privacy or Privacy > Privacy dashboard. Select a permission category to see which apps accessed it and when.
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Pay particular attention to contacts, camera, microphone, location, photos and videos, and files. An app may request a permission for a legitimate feature, but you do not have to approve access that is unrelated to how you use the app. You can also remove the app if you are uncomfortable with its data practices.
How to check Temu on an iPhone
On an iPhone, use Apple’s permission controls and App Privacy Report:
- Open Settings.
- Tap Privacy & Security.
- Choose a category such as Contacts, Photos, Camera, Microphone, or Location Services.
- Review whether Temu has access and change the setting if necessary.
For a broader activity view, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > App Privacy Report and turn it on. The report starts collecting information only after activation. Once data has accumulated, it can show app access to sensitive data and sensors, along with network activity from the previous seven days.
What shoppers should do if they are concerned
- Use only the official app store. Do not install an APK or a modified version of Temu from an unofficial website.
- Review permissions before shopping. Deny contacts, photos, microphone, camera, or precise location access unless you have a specific reason to use that feature.
- Limit the information in your account. Avoid providing optional profile details, unnecessary recipient information, or access to your contacts.
- Use a unique password. Do not reuse the password from your email, bank, or other shopping accounts. Turn on multifactor authentication where available.
- Watch financial accounts. Check card and bank statements for unauthorized transactions. A virtual card number or a credit card with transaction alerts can reduce exposure compared with linking a primary checking account.
- Delete the app if you no longer use it. Removing an app stops future app activity on the device, but it does not automatically delete account records. Use Temu’s account or privacy tools to request deletion and keep confirmation of the request.
- Be wary of phishing. Fake refunds, delivery notices, and account-verification messages can be more dangerous than the shopping app itself. Do not provide a one-time code or payment details through an unsolicited link.
What has—and has not—been established
The strongest accurate summary is:
- Verified: An Arkansas attorney general filed a lawsuit making the “dangerous malware” and text-message-access allegations on June 25, 2024.
- Verified: Temu’s current store disclosures and privacy policy describe collection of significant account, shopping, device, usage, location, and user-provided information.
- Not established by the available sources: That the current Temu app reads private SMS messages, changes its code to bypass security, or has been judicially determined to be malware.
For personal-finance purposes, the practical issue is not simply whether an app meets a legal definition of malware. An app can collect more shopping, device, location, and advertising data than you want to share without being proven malicious. Checking permissions, reducing optional data, protecting payment accounts, and monitoring statements are sensible precautions while the allegations remain allegations.
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- Raised Camera & Screen Protection: The tiny design of 2.5 mm lips over the camera, 1.5 mm bezels over the screen, and 0.5 mm raised corner lips on the back provides extra and comprehensive protection, even if the phone is dropped, can minimize and reduce scratches and bumps on the phone. Molded strictly to the original phone, all ports, lenses, and side button openings have been measured and calibrated countless times, and each button is sensitive and easily accessible
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FAQ
Did a court rule that Temu is dangerous malware?
No. “Dangerous malware” was language used in the Arkansas attorney general’s complaint. The available information does not show a court finding that Temu is malware.
Does Temu read users’ text messages?
The lawsuit alleges that Temu was designed to obtain access to text messages. That allegation has not been established as a proven fact. The current Apple privacy label does not list SMS content, and the Google Play listing does not independently verify SMS access.
Is Temu’s app safe to use?
The available disclosures show that Temu may collect substantial account, shopping, device, usage, and location information. App-store labels are not independent certifications of safety. Review permissions, use a unique password, avoid unnecessary account information, and monitor payment accounts.
How can I stop Temu from accessing my phone data?
On Android, use Settings > Apps > Temu > Permissions. On iPhone, use Settings > Privacy & Security and review categories such as Contacts, Photos, Camera, Microphone, and Location Services. You can deny access, turn on App Privacy Report on iPhone, or uninstall the app.
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The Bottom Line
The Temu lawsuit is real, and its complaint makes serious claims about access to texts, location, contacts, documents, and other phone data. But the lawsuit is not proof that the current Temu app is malware or that it reads every user’s messages. Treat the claims as allegations, check the permissions on your own phone, minimize the data you provide, and protect shopping payments with alerts and a unique password.
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