Published by NewsPR Today | July 2025
While we dream of AI shoppers, regulators are waking up to a data nightmare.
Just as we’re all starting to daydream about having an AI personal shopper find us the perfect pair of jeans, a dose of cold reality has landed on our doorstep.
A privacy watchdog group with the fantastic name noyb (short for “None of Your Business”) is picking a fight with three of the biggest names on your phone: AliExpress, TikTok, and WeChat.
Well, hold that thought.
Noyb alleges that these tech behemoths are playing fast and loose with European privacy laws, and their complaint pulls back the curtain on a problem that affects anyone who has ever clicked “add to cart.”
So, What’s the Big Deal?
The core of the issue, filed on July 17, 2025, is something called the “right of access.” Under Europe’s tough GDPR privacy law, you have the right to demand a copy of every single bit of data a company holds on you. Think of it like asking for the receipts on your own life—every search, every purchase, every late-night scroll.
Most tech companies have a button for this. It’s standard practice. But according to noyb, getting your data from these three is like pulling teeth.
- TikTok coughed up a messy, incomplete file that was more confusing than helpful.
- AliExpress sent a digital key that only worked once before locking the user out.
- WeChat just ghosted them. No reply. Nothing.
Noyb’s argument is simple: these apps are brilliant at harvesting our data, but when we ask to see what they’ve collected, they go dark. And in Europe, that’s against the law.
Why You Should Care About This, Even If You’re Not in Europe
This isn’t just about some broken link on a “contact us” page. This is about digital transparency. When you use these apps, they are building a detailed profile of you. Without access to that profile, you have zero idea what they’re doing with it. Are they using it responsibly? Or are they quietly sending it to servers in China, where privacy protections are virtually non-existent?
This is where the story connects back to our shiny AI shopping future. A platform like AliExpress is a universe of products. If a tool like ChatGPT starts pulling deals from these marketplaces to serve you, it’s easy to see how these privacy black holes could become part of the system. The convenience would be incredible, but it casts a long shadow of doubt over who truly controls your information.
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Noyb Is Not Messing Around
This watchdog group isn’t just writing angry blog posts. They have filed official complaints with data protection authorities in Greece, Belgium, and the Netherlands. And they’re not asking for a slap on the wrist.
They want regulators to force these companies to open their books and provide users with their data, period. On top of that, they’re demanding fines. Massive ones. Under GDPR, a company can be fined up to 4% of its global annual revenue. For a company the size of AliExpress, that could mean a jaw-dropping penalty of around €147 million.
This is the same group that has successfully gone after Apple, Google, and Meta, leading to billions in fines. They have a track record, and now they have Chinese tech in their sights.
The AI in the Room
So, how does a legal fight in Brussels connect to your future chats with an AI? Easily.
Imagine you ask ChatGPT to find you a bargain on a new gadget. The AI, doing its job, serves up a great deal from a seller on AliExpress. You click “buy” right there in the chat. In that moment, your purchase data—your name, your address, what you bought—flows into a system that’s actively resisting transparency. You get your gadget, but at what cost to your privacy?
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What Happens Next?
The ball is now in the court of EU regulators. They will investigate these claims, and if they find the companies at fault, the consequences could be severe. This is more than just a warning shot; it’s a direct challenge to how these global platforms operate.
For the rest of us, it’s a crucial reminder. The convenience of modern life is seductive, but it’s rarely free. The situation with AliExpress, TikTok, and WeChat shows us that the price is often our data. As we race toward an automated future, it’s worth asking what we’re willing to trade for it.
Note: This article is based on reports from July 17, 2025. For the latest developments, refer to official updates from noyb or relevant EU data protection authorities.
