Online retailers Shein, Temu, AliExpress, and Wish are undergoing investigations in France due to allegations that they allow minors to access pornographic content on their platforms. This inquiry was confirmed by the Paris prosecutor on Tuesday.
Concerns were raised after the consumer watchdog identified the sale of childlike sex dolls on Shein over the weekend, prompting the agency to file a report with the prosecution service.
The Paris prosecutor's office has expressed that these platforms are under scrutiny for offering violent, pornographic, or degrading content that could be viewed by minors.
Additionally, both Shein and AliExpress are implicated in the investigation for distributing content of a pornographic nature concerning children. The Paris Office des Mineurs, responsible for child protection, is overseeing the cases.
In a proactive response, Shein announced on Monday that it would prohibit the sale of all sex dolls globally and block seller accounts linked to these illegal products to enhance control measures on the platform.
The French Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control stated that the product descriptions for these dolls unequivocally suggested their pornographic nature.
The heightened scrutiny of Shein arrives just as the company prepares to inaugurate its first permanent physical store in France on Wednesday amidst demonstrations against its sales policies.
Shein has plans to establish additional locations in other French cities such as Dijon, Reims, and Angers.
