what we know about the sale of child pornography dolls by several e-commerce giants

Will the Chinese “ultra fast-fashion” giant have to close shop in France? The online sales site Shein is once again at the heart of a controversy, since the authorities spotted the presence of sex dolls with “child pornography” among the goods available on the site. Monday, November 3, the Minister of the Economy, Roland Lescure, estimated BFMTV that the brand had “exceeded the limits” : “I want to be very clear: if these behaviors are repeated, we will be entitled, and I will request it, to prohibit the Shein platform from accessing the French market. It is in the law”he threatened. The dolls were reported to the courts and Shein removed them from sale, but the platform and the seller are at risk. Other e-commerce sites are also in the sights of the authorities. Here is what we know about this affair.

Child-like sex dolls

The incriminated objects are “child-like sex dolls”according to the Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF). “Their description and categorization on the site makes it difficult to doubt the child pornography nature of the content”adds the regulator in a press release.

The doll was presented as a sex toy, on sale for nearly 187 euros on Shein. According to the article of Parisian who revealed this affair, the description included words like “sex doll (…) male masturbation toy with erotic body and real vagina and anus”. “The announcements particularly shocked us”DGCCRF spokesperson Alice Vilcot-Dutarte tells the daily.

According to The Parisianinvestigators also realized that “a whole range of pornographic products, including sex toys and other inflatable dolls intended for adults”was accessible to Internet users without verification of their age. Australian associations like Collective Shout have been warning since the end of October about the marketing of such dolls, designed as such or modifiable by buyers, on sites like Shein or Temu, reports Australian media ABC.

A report from the authorities and an internal investigation opened

It was the DGCCRF which sounded the alarm. In a press release published on Saturday, she announced that she had noticed the sale of these dolls the day before and had “immediately reported the facts to the public prosecutor” as well as Arcom, the French digital policeman.

“A report was made to the platform, calling on it to quickly implement appropriate measures”also notes the DGCCRF. “The dissemination, via an electronic communications network, of representations of a child pornography nature, is punishable by penalties of up to 7 years of imprisonment and a fine of 100,000 euros”reminds the administration.

As of Saturday, Shein said it had removed “immediately” from its platform these sex dolls. “Our Marketplace Governance team is currently investigating how these listings may have circumvented our controls, and is conducting a comprehensive review to identify and remove any similar products that may be offered for sale by other third-party sellers.”the company added in a written response to the media. “We are taking immediate corrective measures and strengthening our internal systems to prevent such a situation from recurring”also said Quentin Ruffat, spokesperson for Shein, interviewed by France 2.

Unanimous political condemnations

“Shein, how do you explain that child pornography sex dolls remained online for several hours on your platform?”questioned the Minister Delegate in charge of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Technology, Anne Le Hénanff, on Saturday on X. “Online platforms must take their responsibilities and comply with our law and our values”she insisted, adding that “If this is not the case, we will systematically use legal means to sanction and coerce.”

“The work of the DGCCRF agents was exemplary. Thanks to them”for his part greeted the Minister for SMEs, Serge Papin, on his social networks. “This case is now in the hands of Justice”added the former CEO of the Système U group.

“A platform that agrees to market these objects is in a certain way complicit”castigated the High Commissioner for Children, Sarah El Haïry. “I want to understand who authorized the sale of these items, what processes were put in place, so that this does not happen again, (And) who are the suppliers because there are many people who produce these absolutely despicable dolls”denounced the vice-president of MoDem.

She raised the possibility of a “discussion” with Shein to obtain communication of the files of buyers of these dolls in France. “People who bought these dolls used their credit cards, they had them delivered to their home or office”she continued.

“I want to be very clear: if these behaviors are repeated, we will be entitled and I will ask that access to the Shein platform be prohibited from the French market”warned the Minister of the Economy, Roland Lescure, Monday morning on BFMTV. “The law is very clear: if we have repeated behavior or if the objects in question are not removed within 24 hours, the government can request it”underlined the minister, specifying that this could apply to “terrorist acts, drug trafficking and child pornography”.

Other platforms concerned, the sector summoned

The High Commissioner for Children announced on Sunday her intention to convene, with the Minister of Commerce, Serge Papin, “all major platforms” e-commerce “who sell in France” after the discovery of child pornography dolls sold on Shein. “It’s not just Shein, there are many others, we have been alerted to other cases”confirmed Monday Sarah El Haïry on franceinfo.

Sarah El Haïry assures that “beyond Shein”other platforms “use tricks” to avoid prosecution by not putting “not the descriptions of the objects” that they sell. “They will put the image, the photo”more “They don’t put in the keywords that it’s a sex doll”. “They’re trying to waste our time” And “endanger children”adds the High Commissioner for Children.

Franceinfo noted on Monday that similar dolls had also been offered for sale on AliExpress, before being withdrawn, confirming information from RMC. The object was presented as a “real silicone doll” and sold at 247 euros, with a photo similar to the model previously sold on Shein. It is unknown, at this stage, whether the DGCCRF has been contacted regarding AliExpress.

Shein at the heart of several controversies

This affair is not the only burning issue for the Chinese online sales platform. The DGCCRF fined Shein 40 million euros in July, for “deceptive commercial practices towards consumers on the reality of the price reductions granted and on the scope of the commitments concerning environmental claims”according to a press release (PDF). The company was also fined 150 million euros by the Cnil September 1, for “non-compliance with the rules applicable to tracers (cookies)” (which Shein appealed, according to Les Echos).

Above all, the “ultra fast-fashion” site is regularly the subject of criticism for the mode of consumption that it promotes and its environmental consequences. To the point that an “anti-fast-fashion” law (which has yet to be definitively adopted) particularly targets Shein. The platform is also singled out for authorizing the sale of poor quality products, many of which do not meet European requirements, according to UFC-Que Choisir.

It is this bad reputation which partly explains the outcry caused by the announcement of the opening of a Shein store at the BHV du Marais shopping center in Paris, then in five other French cities. Despite criticism and defections from BHV partners, the opening of the Parisian store is still scheduled for Wednesday, November 5.