France Threatens to Ban Shein Amid Investigation into Childlike Sex Dolls

French authorities have launched an investigation into Shein after the retailer was found to be selling sex dolls with childlike features on its online platform. The Paris prosecutor's office, following a complaint from the consumer watchdog DGCCRF and in collaboration with the National Office for Minors, is probing the matter alongside similar investigations into competitors AliExpress, Temu, and Wish. The controversy intensified when the dolls—one described as 80 centimeters tall and holding a teddy bear—were explicitly marketed on Shein's site, raising serious child exploitation concerns.

French Economy Minister Robert Lescure and Finance Minister Roland Lescure have been vocal in their condemnation, with Robert Lescure stating that "boundaries have been crossed" and indicating potential business bans if further incidents occur. In response, Shein has removed the offending listings, banned all sex-doll products, and suspended its adult product category. Quentin Ruffat, Shein's spokesperson, emphasized the company’s commitment to cooperating fully with authorities and combating child exploitation. Despite these steps, protests by the child-protection NGO Mouv’Enfants took place outside Shein's newly opened Paris store.

Shein also faces scrutiny for its sale of other pornographic products without robust age-filtering mechanisms, a violation of French law that mandates the removal of illegal content within 24 hours or risk site blocking by internet providers. Previously, Shein has been fined €191 million for various compliance issues in France. This latest controversy adds pressure on Shein as it seeks to establish a physical presence in the French market.