DPC opens GDPR investigation into Shein over data transfers to China
Published: 05/05/2026
| Irish Data Protection Commission
The Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC) has launched an investigation into SHEIN over its transfer of personal data to China. The investigation focuses on whether the company has met its obligations under the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) when transferring the personal data of EU/EEA data subjects.
The DPC will examine SHEIN's compliance with the data processing principles under Article 5, transparency obligations under Article 13, and the requirements of Chapter V concerning the transfer of personal data to third countries. DPC Deputy Commissioner Graham Doyle noted that EU law requires data transferred outside the bloc to receive protections essentially equivalent to those provided within the EU.
The investigation follows recent regulatory actions and complaints to other EU data protection authorities (DPAs) that have placed a strategic focus on data transfers to China.
In related news, Ireland's independent regulator for broadcasting and online media, the Coimisiún na Meán, has launched two formal investigations into Meta's Instagram and Facebook platforms. The investigations, conducted under the Digital Services Act (DSA), will determine whether the online platforms have violated rules concerning deceptive interface designs, known as dark patterns. Specifically, the regulator is assessing whether Meta has used manipulative design tactics to prevent users from selecting recommender system feeds that are not based on profiling. The investigations focus on compliance with DSA Articles 25 and 27, which aim to protect the rights of individuals to make informed choices about how their content is curated online.
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