Temu
5 Facebook x.com Reddit
The Indonesian government has asked Apple to block Chinese retailer Temu from the App Store in an attempt to protect small businesses in the country.
Temu has become a major force in online shopping in a short period of time thanks to its low-cost selection. But in one country, it is trying to take action by making it harder to make purchases through it.
The Indonesian government has asked Apple and Google to block access to the Temu app so citizens can’t download it, Reuters reports.
Ministers are making the request as a preemptive measure to protect their small and medium-sized businesses from the retailer. It also comes despite the fact that no transactions have been recorded through the app by residents in the country.
Calling Temu “unhealthy competition,” Communications Minister Budi Aryee Setiadi said: “We are not here to protect e-commerce, we are here to protect small and medium-sized businesses. We have to protect millions.”
So far, Apple and Google have not responded to the request, and Temu is available to download on both regional app stores.
Along with the request to block the app, the government wants to block any attempts by Temu to invest in local e-commerce businesses. Again, this is a preemptive move, as Temu has not yet made any such investments.
Temu is not the only company the government has targeted. Shein is also expected to receive the same treatment in the future, Budi said.
The government previously forced TikTok to shut down its e-commerce services in the country in 2023. This prompted TikTok to buy a majority stake in GoTo to continue selling in the region.
Follow AppleInsider on Google News
