Overview
- Local authorities suspended production at several facilities in Dongguan and Huizhou and opened formal investigations, according to Chinese state media reports.
- The products under scrutiny were customizable dolls marketed as ball‑jointed or anime figures, typically 70–140 cm tall and priced from hundreds to thousands of yuan.
- France launched a probe into AliExpress over suspected sales, and Sweden signaled it will legislate if online retailers fail to stop marketing dolls that resemble children.
- Shein removed all sex dolls globally and said it strengthened its keyword blacklist to prevent sellers from evading listing restrictions.
- Following a Reuters inquiry, AliExpress closed a seller accused of offering such dolls and said it is tightening third‑party monitoring under tougher EU rules.