Noyb Takes Aim at Xiaomi and Chinese Tech Giants Over Data Privacy

Noyb, which stands for "None of Your Business," is an Austrian organization dedicated to digital rights, spearheaded by renowned lawyer and privacy advocate Max Schrems. The group aims to ensure that companies adhere to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Europe's stringent legislation designed to protect user data. Noyb has previously taken legal action against major tech players, including Google and Meta, for alleged breaches of privacy regulations. According to a Reuters report, recent allegations suggest that companies like Temu and Tencent’s WeChat are transferring user data to unspecified "third countries," suspected to be China. Under GDPR, exporting data outside of the EU is only permitted if the foreign nation offers data protection standards comparable to those in Europe. Noyb's data protection lawyer, Kleanthi Sardeli, contends that China's data protection measures fall short of EU requirements, declaring such data transfers unlawful and demanding an immediate cessation. In parallel, the European Commission has escalated its investigation into Elon Musk's social media platform, X, examining potential violations of EU content moderation standards. This inquiry, initiated in December 2023, includes a demand for internal documents by February 15, along with a retention order for records tied to X's recommendation algorithms up until 2025. The ongoing scrutiny in Europe is intensifying, creating waves in the tech industry!