FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Caroline Tabler or Patrick McCann (202) 224-2353
July 11, 2024

Cotton Demands Biden Administration Protect Americans’ Data From Shein

Washington, D.C. — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) yesterday sent a letter to President Joe Biden, urging him to take action against Shein, a Chinese fashion retailer that has ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Senator Cotton requested the Biden administration provide a plan to protect Americans’ data from Shein and identify whether Shein is complying with U.S. laws.

In part, Senator Cotton wrote:

“As a large fashion retailer, Shien has access to a vast array of customer and supply chain data. And as a Chinese company, Shien is subject to national security laws that requires compliance with any request from the CCP to access that data. Allowing Shein to promulgate its technology within the U.S. will increase the risk that the CCP will gather data from U.S. businesses and use it for nefarious purposes.”

Full text of the letter may be found here and below.

July 10, 2024

President Joseph R. Biden
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500                 

Dear President Biden:

I write to urge your administration to take action to prevent the Chinese company Shein from selling potentially fraudulent supply-chain technology to U.S. companies. Your administration must ensure that data from U.S. companies is not harvested by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) through the purchase of Shein software and technology.

As a large fashion retailer, Shien has access to a vast array of customer and supply chain data. And as a Chinese company, Shien is subject to national security laws that requires compliance with any request from the CCP to access that data. Allowing Shein to promulgate its technology within the U.S. will increase the risk that the CCP will gather data from U.S. businesses and use it for nefarious purposes.

While Shein moved its headquarters to Singapore and claims to store U.S. data in the U.S., it is still owned by the Chinese. As we’ve seen with companies such as LOGINK in U.S. ports and TikTok, any amount of CCP access to U.S. data poses a national security risk.

The spread of Shein’s supply-chain technology could provide the CCP with a vast trove of data about global and U.S. supply chains, as well as with details about U.S. citizens. The CCP would almost certainly use that data to subvert U.S. interests. This is unacceptable.

Please provide the following information no later than August 1, 2024:                

  1. Is your administration tracking the possible sale of Shein supply chain software to U.S. companies? Have you taken steps to warn U.S. companies of the possible danger?
  2. Has your administration identified any instances of the CCP viewing or utilizing data gathered by Shein?
  3. Are Shein operations in the United States in compliance with all relevant data protection laws, regulations, and standards? Please provide details on their level of compliance.
  4. Has your administration evaluated the possible national security risk posed by the spread of Shein’s supply chain technology? If so, please provide details. If not, why?

Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

Sincerely,

 _________________

Tom Cotton

United States Senator

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