French regulators have found sex dolls on Shein’s website that appeared childlike and have referred the case to prosecutors. The consumer watchdog issued a formal notice demanding urgent corrective measures and raised concerns about weak age-filtering for pornographic items. Economy Minister Roland Lescure warned authorities could seek a market ban if similar incidents recur, using laws that allow removal of illegal content within 24 hours and blocking of noncompliant sites. The dispute comes days before Shein’s first permanent Paris store opens amid a petition with over 100,000 signatures.
France Threatens to Block Shein After Discovery of Childlike Sex Dolls Ahead of Paris Store Opening
French regulators have found sex dolls on Shein’s website that appeared childlike and have referred the case to prosecutors. The consumer watchdog issued a formal notice demanding urgent corrective measures and raised concerns about weak age-filtering for pornographic items. Economy Minister Roland Lescure warned authorities could seek a market ban if similar incidents recur, using laws that allow removal of illegal content within 24 hours and blocking of noncompliant sites. The dispute comes days before Shein’s first permanent Paris store opens amid a petition with over 100,000 signatures.
16:51, 03.11.2025Society
French regulators warn of market ban after childlike sex dolls found on Shein
PARIS — French consumer authorities have warned they may block access to Shein after investigators discovered sex dolls on the retailer’s website that appeared to have a childlike appearance. The Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control said the product descriptions and categorization left little doubt about their troubling nature and that it has referred the matter to public prosecutors.
Formal notice and possible sanctions
The watchdog issued a formal notice demanding urgent corrective measures and flagged additional concerns that Shein offers other pornographic items, including adult-style sex dolls, without effective age filters to prevent minors or sensitive audiences from accessing such content. Shein did not immediately respond to requests for comment from The Associated Press.
"This is provided for by law," Economy Minister Roland Lescure told BFM TV, adding that in cases involving "terrorism, drug trafficking, or child pornographic materials, the government has the right to request that access to the French market be prohibited."
Under French law, platforms must remove manifestly illegal content such as child pornography within 24 hours. Failure to comply can lead authorities to require internet service providers and search engines to block access to and delist the offending site. Distribution of child-pornographic material via electronic networks can carry penalties of up to seven years in prison and fines of €100,000 (about $115,000).
Context and public reaction
Shein, founded in China in 2012 and now based in Singapore, is a low-cost fast-fashion retailer that reaches customers mainly through its app and ships to roughly 150 countries. The company has faced repeated criticism over labor practices and environmental impact. The controversy arose just days before Shein’s planned opening of its first permanent Paris store inside the BHV Marais department store, an event that has already provoked public opposition: an online petition opposing the store has gathered more than 100,000 signatures.
Next steps
The case is now with prosecutors. French authorities have signaled they will pursue rapid corrective action and potentially seek a ban from the French market if similar violations are found again.