France is investigating Shein and Temu following the sex doll controversy.
This all started when France's consumer watchdog raised serious concerns over the weekend. They reported the four companies to the prosecution service after finding "childlike sex dolls" being sold on Shein's platform. According to the Paris prosecutor's office, the investigation extends to "violent, pornographic, or 'undignified messages'" that children could potentially encounter on these sites.
AliExpress has publicly stated that it is taking the matter very seriously. Shein, Temu, and Wish have also been contacted for their comments regarding the allegations.
Further complicating matters, Shein and AliExpress face an additional investigation related to the distribution of child pornographic content. These sensitive cases have been handed over to Paris' Office des Mineurs, a specialized branch of the French police dedicated to protecting minors.
AliExpress quickly responded to the discovery of the controversial listings, confirming they violated their policies and were removed as soon as they became aware. The company emphasized that "Sellers found to violate or trying to circumvent these requirements will be penalised in accordance with our rules." Meanwhile, Shein announced on Monday a worldwide ban on the sale of all sex dolls on its platform. The Singapore-based retailer also committed to permanently blocking seller accounts involved in the illegal sale of these dolls and implementing stricter controls across its site.
The French consumer watchdog, officially known as the Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control, had previously stated that the descriptions and categorization of these sex dolls left "little doubt as to the child pornography nature" of the items.
This intense scrutiny comes at a pivotal time for Shein, which originated in China. The company is set to open its first permanent physical store in France on Wednesday. Protesters have already been spotted gathering outside the Paris department store slated to house Shein's new outlet. Beyond Paris, Shein has plans to open additional stores in other French cities like Dijon, Reims, and Angers.
