Shein Summoned Before French Parliament Amid Child-Like Sex Dolls Scandal

The French government is intensifying its response to the discovery of pedopornographic dolls sold on Shein's platform. Economy Minister Roland Lescure announced the possibility of banning Shein in France if the company repeats the sale of such illegal items, emphasizing that for crimes such as pedopornographic offenses, the government can restrict market access. Shein claims to have removed these controversial dolls from its website.

Antoine Vermorel-Marques, leading a parliamentary mission on imported product controls, confirmed that Shein will be summoned within fifteen days to answer detailed questions about supply chain transparency and internal controls. This comes as Shein plans to open a physical store in Paris shortly, a move the government sees with concern amid legal scrutiny.

In addition, Sarah El Haïry, High Commissioner for Children, called for tougher oversight not only of platforms but also the buyers of these dolls. She announced plans for social investigations into households of convicted buyers, highlighting that 70% of sexual violence occurs within families. El Haïry classified these dolls as pedocriminal objects and affirmed that their sale and purchase are illegal under French law. She also noted that the judiciary may request buyer identities from Shein and other platforms, despite some reluctance to share data.

A meeting with representatives of various e-commerce platforms is scheduled to discuss enhancing regulatory controls to protect children. The government is clearly signaling a zero-tolerance approach and pushing for accountability throughout the supply and distribution chain involved in this troubling case.