France Investigates Shein and Temu After Sex Doll Scandal
Online retailers featuring these four major platforms are presently under investigation in France for the offence of enabling youngsters to view pornographic information on their services, the Paris prosecutor announced on this Tuesday.
The nation's regulatory body had flagged the four firms to the legal authorities on Sunday after voicing concerns about the availability of youth-resembling sex dolls on the Shein website over the weekend.
The investigative authorities noted that the online services are being investigated over harmful, pornographic or inappropriate material that can be seen by underage users.
AliExpress asserted that it views the matter extremely earnestly. These companies have also been contacted for a statement.
Wider Investigations and Company Reactions
Two of the retailers are also being examined over the distribution of information involving youngsters that are of a adult nature, the agency mentioned.
The issues have been referred to a specialized police unit, the investigative team added. This office is an branch of the French police force that oversees the safeguarding of minors.
AliExpress commented that the listings in concern breached its guidelines and were taken down once it became aware of them.
"Merchants found to violate or attempting to circumvent these requirements will be disciplined in compliance with our rules," the platform said in a official comment.
On this Monday, the retailer confirmed it had banned the selling of every adult toys on its website internationally. The headquartered in Singapore firm also mentioned that it would ban indefinitely all seller accounts involved in the prohibited sale of the youth-resembling dolls and implement tighter measures on its platform.
Regulatory Body Findings and Larger Context
The regulatory authority, the DGCCRF, had stated that the sex dolls' product information and categorisation left "little doubt as to the illicit character" of the items.
The examination of the platform coincides with the firm, which was established in China, makes arrangements for the launch on this Wednesday of its maiden permanent physical store in the French Republic.
Activists have been observed gathered in outside the French capital department store where Shein is set to open the outlet.
The retailer aims to open outlets in other France's shopping centers in locations including Dijon, Reims and Angers.