France Reports Shein for Selling Childlike Sex Dolls Amid Legal Probe

France's anti-fraud unit, DGCCRF, has reported the Asian e-commerce giant Shein to prosecutors and the country's online and broadcasting regulator for selling sex dolls with a childlike appearance, describing the product listings as having a clear paedopornographic nature. These dolls, approximately 80 centimeters tall and depicted with a teddy bear, were available on Shein's platform with explicitly sexualized descriptions, raising concerns about inadvertent exposure to children. Shein promptly removed the dolls and initiated an internal investigation to understand how such listings bypassed their screening measures, also reviewing other potential similar items from third-party vendors. This legal action coincides with Shein's plan to open its first permanent physical store in Paris, which had already sparked backlash from other tenants and top fashion brands at the prestigious BHV Marais department store. The French authorities have previously fined Shein for various regulatory violations, and the EU is investigating the company for possible breaches of consumer protection laws. French officials have emphasized their commitment to protecting the public by urging swift and appropriate measures against such content on e-commerce platforms.