Online retailers Shein, Temu, AliExpress, and Wish are under investigation in France for potentially allowing minors to access pornographic content on their platforms, according to the Paris prosecutor’s office. The investigation follows a report from France’s consumer watchdog, which raised concerns about the sale of childlike sex dolls on Shein’s website.
The prosecutor’s office indicated that the investigation focuses on the availability of violent, pornographic, or “undignified messages” accessible to minors across these platforms. Both Shein and AliExpress are specifically being reviewed for the distribution of content of a pornographic nature involving children.
The cases have been referred to the Office des Mineurs, which is a division of the French police tasked with the protection of minors. In response to the allegations, AliExpress stated that it takes these matters seriously and confirmed that the listings deemed inappropriate were removed as soon as they were discovered. The company emphasized that sellers found violating its policies would face penalties.
In a separate statement, Shein announced it has banned the sale of all sex dolls globally and will permanently block seller accounts associated with illegal sales of childlike dolls. The retailer also committed to implementing stricter controls on its platform.
The French consumer watchdog, the Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs, and Fraud Control, has noted that the descriptions and categorization of the sex dolls raised concerns regarding their potential association with child pornography.
These developments occur as Shein prepares to open its first permanent physical store in France, an event that has attracted protests in front of the Paris location. The company plans to establish additional outlets in other French cities, including Dijon, Reims, and Angers.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2lppx2jm7o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss