Online retail giant Shein says it has banned the sale of all sex dolls on its platform around the world, after being accused of displaying products with a childlike appearance on its website.
The French consumer watchdog first raised concerns at the weekend over the description and categorisation of the dolls, saying it left little doubt as to the child pornography nature of the content.
The company stated that it had permanently banned all seller accounts linked to illegal or non-compliant sex-doll products and will tighten controls across its global platform.
Shein also announced it had temporarily removed its adult products category as a precaution.
Every listing and image related to the sex dolls has been removed from its platform, and Shein will conduct a thorough review while aiming to implement stricter controls on sellers. The company has also strengthened its keyword blacklist to further prevent attempts to circumvent product listing restrictions by sellers, Shein added.
Executive chairman Donald Tang commented: The fight against child exploitation is non-negotiable for Shein. These were marketplace listings from third-party sellers - but I take this personally. He emphasized the company's commitment to tracing the source and taking decisive action against those responsible.
The Paris prosecutor's office confirmed that it had received reports from France's Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF) concerning the sale of sex dolls resembling children and referred the investigation to OFMIN, an agency focused on preventing violence against minors.
The DGCCRF initially raised concerns about the dolls on Saturday, prompting Shein to remove the listings as soon as they were made aware of the issue and to begin an investigation into how the products were listed for sale.
France's finance minister threatened to ban the Singapore-based retailer from the country if the sale of these products continued, just days before the company was due to open its first permanent outlet in Paris. Protests erupted outside the BHV department store in Paris, where the Shein outlet is set to open this week.
The brand has faced previous scrutiny regarding the environmental impact of fast fashion and the working conditions of the people who make the products sold on its platform.
