Shein Halts Child Sex Doll Sales After French Scandal

Shein Faces Legal Action Over Childlike Sex Dolls

Chinese fast-fashion giant Shein has been forced to remove childlike sex dolls from its platform after French consumer authorities discovered the disturbing products being sold alongside adult sex toys. The Direction Générale de la Concurrence, de la Consommation et de la Répression des Fraudes (DGCCRF), France's consumer watchdog, found the dolls measuring approximately 80 centimeters tall and described as resembling a 4-year-old girl holding a teddy bear.

Pedophilic Nature Confirmed

The French regulator stated that 'the description and placement on the site leave little doubt about the pedophilic nature of the product' in their official statement. The dolls were explicitly marketed as 'a masturbation toy for men' and priced at €186.94. The DGCCRF has filed a formal complaint with prosecutors, warning that distributing child pornography via electronic networks carries penalties of up to seven years imprisonment and €100,000 fines under French law.

Shein's Response and Internal Investigation

Shein immediately removed the controversial products and launched an internal investigation. A company spokesperson told Franceinfo that 'We are taking immediate measures and strengthening our procedures to prevent this from happening again'. The company claims to have a zero-tolerance policy regarding content or products that violate laws and internal regulations.

Timing Couldn't Be Worse

The scandal emerges at a particularly sensitive moment for Shein's French expansion plans. The company is scheduled to open its first permanent physical store in Paris this Wednesday at Bazar de l'Hôtel de Ville (BHV), marking its first brick-and-mortar presence in France. Shein also plans additional stores in five other French cities including Dijon, Reims, Grenoble, Angers, and Limoges.

Growing Regulatory Pressure

This incident represents the latest in a series of regulatory challenges for Shein in France. Earlier this year, the company faced €191 million in fines for various violations including misleading product promotions, failure to disclose microplastics, and online cookie law breaches. In July alone, Shein was fined €40 million for deceptive pricing practices.

The European Commission has previously notified Shein about consumer protection violations including fake discounts and misleading sustainability claims. Consumer advocacy groups have also raised concerns about product safety, with the Dutch Consumentenbond recently warning about electrical hazards and toxic substances in Shein products.

Industry Reaction and Public Outcry

French authorities and consumer protection groups have expressed outrage at the discovery. The DGCCRF noted that adult sex dolls were also available without proper age restrictions, violating French law. 'This case demonstrates the urgent need for stronger oversight of e-commerce platforms', commented a consumer rights advocate familiar with the investigation.

Shein's expansion into physical retail has faced significant opposition in France, with over 110,000 people signing petitions against the company's store openings. Critics cite concerns about environmental impact, alleged labor exploitation, and unfair competition with local retailers.

The company, valued at $30 billion as of February 2025, continues to face scrutiny over its business practices despite generating $32 billion in revenue last year. This latest controversy threatens to further complicate Shein's European expansion strategy and raises serious questions about the effectiveness of its content moderation systems.