In brief
Shein has been accused by France's consumer watchdog, the DGCCRF, of listing sex dolls that resemble children on its website. Following the complaint, Shein delisted the products and is conducting an investigation into how such items were listed. French authorities have reported the incident to prosecutors and the country's online regulator, all amid Shein's plans to open its first permanent store in Paris.
France's consumer watchdog has reported the Asian fast fashion giant Shein to authorities for selling 'sex dolls with a childlike appearance' on its website.
The Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF) stated that the online description and categorization of the dolls 'makes it difficult to doubt the child pornography nature of the content'.
In response, Shein informed the BBC that 'The products in question were immediately delisted as soon as we became aware of these serious issues.'
Shein added that it is investigating how these listings circumvented their screening measures and is conducting a review to identify and remove similar items listed by third-party vendors.
The DGCCRF's report has reached French prosecutors and Arcom, the national regulator for online and broadcast content, according to media sources.
This controversy comes just days prior to Shein's plan to open its first permanent physical shop in the world, located in a Parisian department store.
