Shein Pulls Childlike Sex Dolls After French Watchdog Finds Pornographic Content
Chinese online retailer Shein has recently removed "childlike sex dolls" from its website following their discovery by the French consumer watchdog, the Directorate-General for Competition, Consumer Affairs, and Fraud Control (DGCCRF). The company confirmed the immediate removal of the items on Sunday, acknowledging significant shortcomings in its content moderation.
The DGCCRF had revealed its findings on Saturday, stating that it had identified not only the childlike sex dolls but also several other pornographic items, including adult-looking sex dolls, on Shein's platform. The agency emphasized that the "description and categorization on the site leave little doubt as to the child pornography nature of the content," prompting them to report the matter to judicial authorities. A key concern raised by the DGCCRF was the apparent absence of effective filtering measures to restrict access to this explicit content for minors or sensitive audiences on the website.
In an email response to Reuters, Shein stated, "The products in question were immediately removed from the platform as soon as we became aware of these major shortcomings." The fast-fashion giant further affirmed its commitment to content integrity, adding that "Shein has a zero-tolerance policy towards any content or products that violate our internal policies or applicable laws."
This incident comes at a pivotal time for Shein's expansion into the French market. The company is poised to open its first physical store in France on Wednesday at the Bazar de l'Hôtel de Ville (BHV) in Paris. Furthermore, Shein has ambitious plans to establish five additional stores within Galeries Lafayette department stores across other French cities, including Angers, Dijon, Grenoble, Limoges, and Reims.
Despite its rapid growth and expansion efforts, Shein has faced considerable scrutiny in France. Conventional French apparel retailers have vocally criticized the Chinese fast-fashion company, arguing that its ultra-low prices are undermining their established business models and creating unfair competition within the industry.
