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France Refers Shein to Prosecutors Over Alleged Childlike Sex Dolls on Platform

The referral heightens scrutiny of the retailer ahead of its first permanent Paris store opening.

Overview

  • France’s consumer watchdog said product descriptions and categories indicated pedopornographic content and reported the case to the Paris prosecutor and media regulator Arcom.
  • Shein said the listings were removed immediately, launched an internal investigation into how they evaded controls, and began a platform-wide review to find and delete similar offers.
  • Authorities also flagged the absence of effective age filters for sexual content and reminded that such offenses carry penalties of up to seven years’ jail and €100,000, with separate sanctions for missing filters of up to three years and €75,000.
  • The Paris prosecutor had not publicly responded as of Saturday, and the commerce minister said the state will act to protect consumers.
  • The referral lands days before Shein’s planned first permanent Paris store at the BHV and follows three French fines this year totaling €191 million.