The Data Protection Commission of Ireland has opened an investigation into Shein, examining the transfer of European users' data to China.

The Data Protection Commission of Ireland (DPC) announced on Tuesday the opening of an investigation into the Chinese online retailer Shein, regarding the transfer of European users' data to China. DPC will assess whether the company's headquarters in Dublin complies with EU privacy regulations, known as GDPR.

These regulations require that personal data transferred outside the EU be afforded protections equivalent to those in the community bloc. Previously, DPC fined TikTok 530 million euros for data protection issues. Graham Doyle, Deputy Commissioner of the DPC, highlighted concerns regarding data transfers to China.

Shein stated that it actively collaborates with the DPC and takes its data protection obligations seriously. This is the first investigation of this kind into Shein since the company opened its headquarters in Ireland in 2023. DPC has imposed fines of over 4 billion euros for GDPR violations since 2020.