Shein has removed listings for “childlike” sex dolls from its online shop following a report from French authorities.
France’s fraud watchdog issued a takedown notice last week after it discovered Shein was selling an 80cm doll of a girl holding a teddy bear, accompanied by a sexually explicit description.
Following the notice to Shein, the watchdog extended its investigation, finding similar products were being sold on AliExpress.
Shein said it has a “zero-tolerance policy” for illegal products.
Context
Over the weekend, French fraud watchdog DGCCRF accused Shein of selling sex dolls “with a childlike appearance.”
“Their categorisation on the site makes it difficult to doubt the… nature of the content,” it said.
French newspaper Le Parisien published a screenshot of what appeared to be the doll in question, listed as a “masturbation toy”.
Le Parisien reported DGCCRF was alerted to the doll by a member of the public.
Finance Minister Roland Lescure told local outlet BFMTV: “If these behaviours are repeated, we will be entitled to… ban [Shein’s] access to the French market.”
Under French law, people convicted of sharing child sexual abuse material online can face up to seven years in jail and fines of up to €100,000 ($AU176,000).
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On Monday (local time), France’s High Commissioner for Children Sarah El Haïry said “many other cases” from other websites had been reported.
Shein response
Shortly after receiving the fraud watchdog’s notice, Shein announced it had withdrawn the dolls from its platform and launched an internal inquiry.
The company also announced “a total ban on ‘sex doll’ type products” as well as the removal of any existing listings.
A Shein spokesperson told Agence France-Presse the ban applies globally.
It comes days before the fast-fashion company was due to open a shop in Paris.
Other platforms
The DGCCRF announced it was also investigating AliExpress, after French media reported the Chinese shopping platform sold the same dolls.
AliExpress said it had immediately removed the items from its website.
Both retailers have been referred to France’s public prosecutor over the sales.
