Controversy over AliExpress’ and Temu’s harmful content for teenagers has not subsided.
Despite constant criticism from Korean consumer organizations, the two Chinese e-commerce giants’ measures have been insufficient, and responses came late from the Korean government.
According to a recent report, a search for the word “underwear” on the two companies’ web sites and smartphone applications shows a flood of explicit photos.
In addition to sexually explicit photos, these web sites and smartphone applications show dangerous knives and swords that are inappropriate for young people to have access to; ear-piercing guns advertised with children as models; and potions advertised as “aphrodisiacs” with obscene language.
The problem is that teens can find or see this kind of content with no restrictions. There have been numerous reports of harmful content on the websites and applications of these companies but the companies have not actively taken corrective measures.
In response, the Korean government announced the Consumer Protection Measures for Users of Overseas Online Platforms at an emergency economic ministerial meeting chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok on March 13.
The Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) said that it would strengthen its supervision of e-commerce platforms by focusing on four major items -- dangerous foods and drugs, fake goods, harmful media for youths (adult products), and privacy violations.
First of all, the Korean government will conduct a survey of Korean and foreign online platforms to check whether they fulfill their consumer protection obligations and sign voluntary agreements with overseas online platform operators to preemptively block an influx of harmful goods into Korea.
“We will ensure that overseas online platform operators faithfully fulfill their consumer protection obligations under Korean law,” a KFTC representative said. “We will comprehensively examine related issues at the government level and take relevant measures.”