Paris Court Rules Against Government's Request to Suspend Shein
A Paris court has delivered a significant legal victory to Chinese fast-fashion giant Shein, rejecting the French government's request to suspend the company's website for three months following a scandal involving the sale of childlike sex dolls and weapons. The court ruled that such a suspension would be 'disproportionate,' acknowledging that Shein had acted appropriately by quickly removing the controversial products from its platform.
The Controversial Products and Legal Battle
The case stemmed from the discovery in November 2025 that Shein's French marketplace was offering disturbing products including childlike sex dolls, weapons, and banned medications. One particularly shocking item was a doll resembling a 4-year-old girl holding a teddy bear, marketed as 'a masturbation toy for men' and priced at €186.94. French authorities arrested at least one individual who had ordered such a doll.
'Our priority remains protecting French consumers and ensuring compliance with local laws and regulations,' a Shein spokesperson stated following the court's decision.
The French government had initially demanded a complete website shutdown but later scaled back its request to only blocking the section where third-party sellers could list products. This marketplace section had already been closed for over a month following the initial scandal.
Court's Reasoning and Ongoing Legal Action
The Paris court determined that the sale of child sex dolls was 'sporadic' and that Shein had demonstrated responsible behavior by promptly removing the offending items. However, the court did impose new requirements: for any future sales of 'normal' sex dolls, Shein must implement age verification for buyers, with a €10,000 fine for each violation.
Despite the ruling, the French government has announced plans to appeal. 'We believe a three-month suspension is necessary to send a strong message about platform responsibility,' a government official told reporters.
Separate legal proceedings continue against the sellers of the child sex dolls, and French prosecutors have opened investigations against Shein and rival platforms including AliExpress, Temu, and Wish for distributing pornographic content accessible to minors.
Shein's Broader Controversies in France
This legal battle comes at a sensitive time for Shein in France. In early November 2025, the company opened its first physical store worldwide in Paris's BHV Marais department store, facing protests from environmental activists and traditional fashion industry representatives who criticized the company's business practices.
Shein, now the world's largest online fashion retailer with approximately €35 billion in revenue, has faced mounting criticism globally for its environmental impact and labor practices. According to Yale Climate Connections, Shein has become the fashion industry's biggest polluter, with carbon dioxide emissions reaching 16.7 million metric tons in 2023 - more than four coal power plants emit annually.
The company's ultra-fast fashion model, powered by AI-driven demand prediction, enables production of up to 10,000 new items daily. A July 2025 report by China Labor Watch and ActionAid revealed serious labor violations in Shein's supply chain in Guangzhou, China, including wage concerns, health and safety hazards, and potential forced labor risks.
Regulatory Scrutiny and Industry Impact
The Shein case highlights broader regulatory challenges facing e-commerce platforms globally. French Finance Minister Roland Lescure had previously warned that he would ban Shein from the French market if such items reappeared online. France's high commissioner for childhood described the dolls as 'paedophile objects' that predators use before abusing children.
The controversy has also impacted other retailers. Dutch e-commerce giant Bol.com suspended sales of all sex dolls following convictions in a similar case, demonstrating how regulatory pressure is spreading across the industry.
As Shein gradually reopens its marketplace in France, the adults-only sexual category will remain closed worldwide following the scandal. The company has pledged full cooperation with French authorities, including offering to share customer names with police if requested.
The ongoing legal battle represents a critical test case for how European regulators balance consumer protection with business operations in the rapidly evolving digital marketplace.