Vinted Under French Investigation for Alleged Pornography Promotion via User Accounts
Vinted, the popular second-hand clothes platform, is currently under investigation in France following serious allegations that some user accounts are being exploited to promote pornographic content. The inquiry was initiated by the French government's child protection commissioner, highlighting concerns about the safety of younger users on the platform.
Reports from the French news website L'Informé and other media last week detailed how certain individuals are leveraging Vinted to funnel users towards adult-content sites, such as OnlyFans. These users reportedly post advertisements for seemingly innocuous items like lingerie or swimwear. Once an individual shows interest, their profiles contain explicit contact details, encouraging direct communication via messaging apps like WhatsApp or Telegram, thereby bypassing Vinted's internal monitoring systems.
Despite these practices being a clear violation of Vinted's established rules, France's High Commissioner for Childhood, Sarah El Hairy, took decisive action on Sunday. She confirmed that she has filed a formal complaint with Arcom, the country's online and media regulator. El Hairy expressed profound concern to the France 3 channel, stating, "Where there are children and adolescents, there are predators. They're using the sale of pretty classic objects to send people towards pornographic content," underscoring the potential danger to vulnerable minors.
This investigation unfolds against the backdrop of recent legislative efforts in France aimed at enhancing online safety. A law passed in 2024 mandates age verification systems for all online platforms that make adult content available in France. This legislation has already sparked significant debate and confrontation, leading several prominent pornography websites to suspend their services in the country rather than comply with the new age verification requirements.
In response to the allegations and queries from AFP, Vinted reaffirmed its commitment to user safety. The company stated that it maintains "a zero-tolerance policy regarding unsolicited communications of a sexual nature or the promotion of sexual services." Vinted also highlighted its significant presence in France, with "more than 23 million registered members," and detailed its use of "proactive detection tools to identify suspicious behaviours, such as inappropriate remarks," encouraging users to report any concerning content they encounter.
Founded in 2008 and headquartered in Lithuania, Vinted has grown substantially to become a dominant force in the online market for second-hand clothing, facilitating millions of transactions and connecting buyers and sellers across various countries.
