In brief
In response to alarming reports regarding the sale of childlike sex dolls, French authorities are investigating online retailers including Shein, Temu, AliExpress, and Wish. The Paris prosecutor's office is looking into potential violations concerning the accessibility of pornographic materials for minors. Shein has since prohibited the sale of such dolls worldwide, attempting to address the serious allegations against them. This scandal coincides with the company's plans to open its first permanent store in Paris, prompting public protest.
Online retailers Shein, Temu, AliExpress, and Wish are being investigated in France in relation to the offence of enabling minors to access pornographic content on their platforms, the Paris prosecutor said on Tuesday.
The country's consumer watchdog had reported the four firms to the prosecution service on Sunday after raising concerns about the sale of childlike sex dolls on Shein's platform over the weekend.
The Paris prosecutor's office told the BBC that the platforms are being investigated over violent, pornographic or undignified messages that can be accessed by minors.
The BBC has contacted the companies for comment.
Shein and AliExpress are also under investigation over the dissemination of content related to children that are of a pornographic nature, the office said.
The cases have been referred to Paris' Office des Mineurs, which oversees the protection of minors, the prosecution service added.
On Monday, Shein said it had banned the sale of all sex dolls on its platform worldwide. The Singapore-based retailer also said that it would permanently block all seller accounts related to the illegal sale of the childlike dolls and set stricter controls on its platform.
The French consumer watchdog, the Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control, had said the sex dolls' description and categorisation left little doubt as to the child pornography nature of the products.
The scrutiny of Shein comes as the company, which was founded in China, prepares for the opening on Wednesday of its first permanent physical outlet in France.
Protesters have been seen gathered in front of the Paris department store where Shein is set to open the outlet.
Shein plans to open outlets in other French department stores in cities including Dijon, Reims and Angers.
