US Pressure Mounts on Shein and Temu as Politicians Demand Investigations. Shein and Temu face escalating scrutiny in the US after top lawmakers pushed for state and federal investigations into alleged forced labour, unsafe materials and widespread intellectual property theft. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton launched a probe into Shein over claims of forced labour, hazardous materials and deceptive marketing practices. At the federal level, Senator Tom Cotton called on the Department of Justice and Homeland Security to investigate both platforms, which he labelled “Communist Chinese,” for alleged IP theft. Cotton said the end of the de minimis rule — abolished by President Trump — means millions of low-cost Chinese shipments now face stricter checks, giving agencies a “golden opportunity” to act. Designers and small US brands accuse Shein of copying original designs within days and selling them cheaply, while Cotton says Temu carries “deceptive fakes” to its hundreds of millions of users. A US investigative report found many items bought from Shein and Temu were likely counterfeits, reinforcing concerns about the platforms’ business models. Paxton said the Shein probe will also examine data collection practices, while both companies face growing international pressure — including EU calls to curb harmful products on their marketplaces. Paxton, a Trump ally, is simultaneously suing Roblox over alleged child-safety failures, with Shein and Temu now the latest tech giants under legal fire.