French Government Takes Legal Action Against AliExpress, Joom, and Shein Over Illegal Product Sales

The French government is escalating its crackdown on e-commerce platforms accused of selling illegal products, notably pedopornographic dolls, by initiating lawsuits against AliExpress and Joom. Concurrently, the Chinese e-commerce giant Shein faces a court hearing on November 26 in Paris, with authorities seeking a minimum three-month suspension of its French operations for similar violations.

Minister of Commerce Serge Papin announced on TF1 that the government intends to file complaints against AliExpress and Joom due to the sale of illegal child pornography dolls. This move follows an earlier complaint against Shein, whose court hearing is scheduled simultaneously. The authorities are demanding that Shein's activities be halted for at least three months and that reopening be conditioned on strict compliance measures. If the court agrees, the digital regulator Arcom would oversee Shein's adherence to these conditions.

The crackdown extends beyond these platforms; investigations are underway into other marketplaces such as Temu, Wish, and eBay over the availability of violent and pornographic materials accessible to minors. The probe highlights systemic issues with Asian-linked platforms allegedly flooding the French market with illicit and potentially harmful goods, undermining both consumer safety and traditional commerce.

Papin emphasized the government's dual objectives: protecting consumers and defending traditional retailers from the disruptive effects of these so-called "digital Wild West" platforms. He also criticized defenders of these platforms who justify low prices as a boon for consumer purchasing power, calling them "false advocates."

The government had previously attempted to compel Shein via administrative measures to remove prohibited items within 48 hours, resulting in Shein halting sales of certain products on its French site, though authorities deemed this insufficient. The pending court decisions mark a significant step in France's efforts to enforce regulations and combat the proliferation of illegal products online.

In summary, the French government is intensifying legal and regulatory actions against major e-commerce platforms AliExpress, Joom, and Shein, aiming to eradicate the sale of illegal products such as pedopornographic dolls and protect consumer interests and traditional commerce in the digital age.