The complaint relies in part on a House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party report finding that Temu shipments from China are likely to contain goods made with forced labor and that the company has made no meaningful effort to screen or verify its supply chain. The suit also lists unlicensed merchandise bearing the trademarks of local sports teams, Anheuser-Busch, Budweiser, and the University of Missouri. Missouri is the latest state to sue Temu, after Arkansas, Nebraska, Kentucky, Arizona, Texas, and Oklahoma. Temu's data practices have also drawn federal scrutiny.
The allegations have not been tested in court. Details of the state's evidence and the company's response are not yet public in the material available for this summary.
For attorneys, the case is a template to watch. The MMPA claims, the covert data-collection theory, and the forced-labor allegations could each shape how other states plead similar suits, and the injunction request could affect how Temu operates in Missouri. Hanaway tied the filing to the holiday shopping season and urged families to vet websites, apps, and marketplaces their children use. Clients with Temu exposure, or consumers seeking to report concerns, can file complaints through the Missouri AG's website or by phone.