Shein faces backlash in France over alleged sale of child-like sex dolls

France's consumer watchdog has filed a lawsuit against fast‑fashion retailer Shein, accusing the firm of featuring sex dolls on its site that unnervingly look like children, as per BBC. The Directorate General, for Competition Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF) says the product descriptions and the categories they were slotted into online suggested a resemblance to minors, prompting suspicions of content.

The agency later referred the case to the authorities for a investigation, making it the latest controversy to hit Shein as the company finds itself under mounting scrutiny, for its business practices and its oversight of the online marketplace.

Shein faces backlash in France over alleged sale of child-like sex dolls ahead of its Paris store launch

Fast-fashion giant Shein is under criticism again in France following claims by regulators that the retailer permits the sale of child-like sex dolls to be sold on its site. In its turn, the case has been referred to the prosecutors and Arcom, the online and broadcasting regulator of the country, by French consumer watchdog DGCCRF as it is reported by local media.

In response, Shein told the BBC that the products were already taken off as soon as the problem was noticed and that a comprehensive internal investigation is currently underway in order to find out how the listings have bypassed its screening mechanism. The company also said that it is reviewing third-party vendor products so as to have similar products removed. 

The accusations come right on the eve of Shein opening its first permanent store outside the United States, in Paris, which happened some days after the company faced criticism over its adherence to European consumer protection regulations.

Shein under investigation in France over alleged sale of child-like sex dolls

French authorities have opened an investigation into Shein after regulators said the fast‑fashion behemoth was offering sex dolls on its site, a move that might run afoul of the country's anti‑pornography statutes. The inquiry follows alerts from the European Commission and consumer watchdogs, which in May pointed to alleged breaches such as sustainability claims and fabricated discount offers.

In a press release, France's consumer‑protection agency DGCCRF warned that distributing material that depicts minors online can carry a penalty of up to seven years behind bars and a €100,000 (approximately $107,000 USD) fine, as reported by POLITICO. According to the agency, it has already tipped off the media regulator Arcom. The dispute only deepens the growing strain between Shein and French interests, arriving months after the brand's Paris debut at BHV sparked backlash, from suppliers.

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