Shein Bans Sex Dolls Globally After France Condemnation

Shein has imposed a global ban on the sale of all sex dolls on its platforms following intense pressure from French authorities after childlike sex dolls were found on its site. France's Finance Minister Roland Lescure threatened to ban Shein from the French market if the company continued selling these illegal and "horrible" items, which were condemned as violating French laws and having pedopornographic implications. The French Directorate-General for Competition, Consumer Affairs, and Fraud Control (DGCCRF) reported the dolls to judicial authorities and is pursuing legal action, with investigations also targeting other platforms like AliExpress for similar sales. Shein removed the products promptly, launched an internal inquiry, and committed to enhanced enforcement measures, including a dedicated team to oversee content integrity. This controversy arose just as Shein was preparing to open its first physical store in Paris, underscoring the company's need to comply with French regulatory standards and consumer protections. French officials have emphasized harsh penalties for distributing such material and aim to identify all involved parties to prevent minors from accessing inappropriate content online.