France Reports Shein Over “Childlike” Sex Dolls Listed on Its Website
The French government’s consumer protection agency has reported global fast-fashion retailer Shein to prosecutors after discovering that the company’s online marketplace featured sex dolls with a childlike appearance.
The Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs, and Fraud Control (DGCCRF) confirmed that the dolls’ presentation and descriptions on the site raised serious concerns about their nature, which it said appeared to resemble child pornography.
According to reports in French media, the DGCCRF stated that “the categorisation and descriptions of the dolls make it difficult to doubt the child pornography nature of the content,” prompting immediate action and legal escalation.
Immediate Removal by Shein
In response to the growing outrage, Shein issued a statement to the BBC, confirming that it had removed the products immediately upon being alerted to the issue.
“The products in question were immediately delisted as soon as we became aware of these serious issues,” a company spokesperson said.
The Chinese fast-fashion giant added that it had launched an internal investigation to determine how the listings had bypassed its screening and content control measures.
“Shein is conducting a comprehensive review to identify and remove any similar items that may be listed on our marketplace by third-party vendors,” the statement continued.
The company also reaffirmed its “zero-tolerance policy” toward any content or product that violates its internal rules or applicable international laws.
French Authorities Escalate Legal Action
Following the discovery, the DGCCRF officially reported Shein to French prosecutors and to Arcom, France’s national authority overseeing online communications and broadcasting regulation.
Under French law, the dissemination of child pornography via electronic means can result in up to seven years in prison and fines reaching €100,000 (£88,000).
The DGCCRF emphasized that the case involves a serious criminal offense, and authorities are expected to determine whether Shein or its marketplace vendors bear direct responsibility for the listings.
As the investigation continues, French officials have pledged to tighten monitoring of online marketplaces that sell adult-oriented products, particularly those hosting third-party sellers.
Timing Adds to Shein’s Growing Controversy
The revelation comes at a particularly delicate time for Shein, which is preparing to open its first-ever permanent physical store in Paris, marking a major milestone in the company’s global expansion.
Set to open on Wednesday inside the historic BHV Marais department store, the launch was initially meant to showcase Shein’s move from a purely digital brand to a hybrid retail model.
However, the news of the DGCCRF’s complaint has overshadowed the event, sparking criticism from activists and consumer groups who argue that Shein’s presence in such a landmark Parisian store sends the wrong message.
Founded in 1856, BHV Marais is one of France’s most iconic retail spaces, and its collaboration with Shein has been described by some French commentators as “a clash between heritage and hyper-fast fashion.”
Mounting Criticism Over Ethics and Sustainability
Even before this latest scandal, Shein had been under intense scrutiny for its business practices. The company, which has rapidly grown into one of the world’s largest online fashion retailers, faces ongoing criticism over its labour conditions, environmental footprint, and data privacy violations.
Human rights organizations have repeatedly accused Shein of using unethical manufacturing practices, including poor working conditions and underpaid labour in its supply chain.
Environmental activists have also denounced the brand for contributing to waste pollution through its ultra-fast production cycles, which churn out thousands of low-cost items weekly — many of which end up in landfills.
The controversy surrounding the childlike dolls has only intensified the scrutiny, with critics arguing that Shein’s oversight of third-party sellers remains dangerously inadequate.
“Shein cannot hide behind its size or its vendors,” one consumer rights advocate told French media. “When you run a global platform of this scale, you have a moral and legal duty to ensure that illegal and exploitative products do not appear on your site.”
Company Vows to Strengthen Controls
Following the DGCCRF’s report, Shein reiterated that it takes the matter “extremely seriously” and is already implementing corrective measures to ensure similar incidents do not occur again.
“We are taking immediate corrective actions and reinforcing our internal controls to prevent this from happening again,” a company spokesperson said.
According to the statement, Shein has launched a global review of all adult-category listings and introduced stricter filters and manual checks to detect potentially illegal or inappropriate content before it goes live.
The company has also pledged to cooperate fully with French authorities, though it has not yet disclosed whether any disciplinary actions have been taken internally against the sellers involved.
Previous Fines and Regulatory Issues
This is not the first time Shein has faced legal or regulatory trouble in France. In September 2025, the country’s data protection authority, the Commission Nationale de l’Informatique et des Libertés (CNIL), imposed a €150 million (£132 million) fine on the company.
The penalty was related to Shein’s failure to obtain proper user consent for placing tracking “cookies” on visitors’ devices — a violation of the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
At the time, CNIL described the breach as a “massive data privacy failure” that affected millions of European users.
That fine added to a growing list of global regulatory challenges facing the company, including intellectual property disputes, labour investigations, and calls for trade restrictions in both Europe and North America.
Public Reaction and Industry Response
The discovery of the “childlike” dolls has prompted widespread outrage on social media and among consumer protection groups in France.
Many users have demanded that Shein’s upcoming Paris store opening be suspended or cancelled, while others have called for a broader investigation into how the company monitors listings from third-party vendors.
Some French lawmakers have also urged for tighter regulation of e-commerce platforms, arguing that the Shein case highlights a systemic problem with online marketplaces that operate with minimal human oversight.
“The digital economy must not become a loophole for illegality,” said one member of France’s National Assembly. “When profit and speed outweigh ethics and safety, society pays the price.”
Industry analysts say that while Shein has grown exponentially by offering low-cost, trend-driven fashion, incidents like this one could damage its global reputation, particularly in Europe — a market where consumer protection and ethical sourcing are highly valued.
Looking Ahead
The DGCCRF’s referral of Shein to French prosecutors marks a significant escalation that could have serious legal and financial implications for the company.
If found liable, Shein or the individual vendors responsible for the listings could face heavy fines and potential criminal charges.
Meanwhile, the retailer’s Paris store opening remains on schedule, though it is now likely to be met with protests and heightened public scrutiny.
Shein insists it is committed to rectifying the issue and rebuilding trust, but experts warn that the brand’s latest scandal underscores the urgent need for greater transparency and ethical accountability in the fast fashion industry.
As France takes a tougher stance on consumer protection and online content regulation, Shein’s case may well serve as a wake-up call for other global retailers operating digital marketplaces without adequate oversight.