Headlines
France investigates Shein, some rivals over underage access to porn content
Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on November 4, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 21, 2026
Global Banking and Finance Review
Company
Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on November 4, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 21, 2026
France is investigating Shein and other platforms for allowing minors access to pornographic content, following a consumer watchdog complaint.
By Gabriel Stargardter and Alessandro Parodi
PARIS (Reuters) -Online retail platforms Shein, Temu, AliExpress and Wish are being investigated in France for alleged rule breaches that include minors being able to access pornographic content via their marketplaces, the Paris prosecutor said on Tuesday.
China's Shein will open its first-ever permanent shop in the BHV department store in central Paris on Wednesday, but French Finance Minister Roland Lescure threatened a countrywide ban of the brand after a consumer watchdog spotted child-like sex dolls sold on its marketplace.
Shein spokesperson for France Quentin Ruffat told RMC radio on Tuesday that the company would do everything in its power to collaborate with the investigation, including sharing the names of vendors and buyers of the dolls, which it has now banned.
AliExpress told Reuters that similar listings had been removed from its site and that sellers who violate the platform's policies will be penalised.
A Temu spokesperson said that accusations against the company were connected to minors accessing certain products on its platform.
Wish did not respond to a request for comment.
PROBE FOLLOWS CONSUMER WATCHDOG COMPLAINT
The Paris prosecutor's office said it received a complaint from the consumer watchdog known as DGCCRF and referred the case to the National Office for Minors to investigate.
The companies are being investigated on suspicion of disseminating violent, pornographic or degrading messages accessible to minors, which can lead to up to three years in prison and a fine of 75,000 euros ($87,465) for individuals involved, the office said.
Shein and AliExpress are also being investigated over the alleged dissemination of images or representations of minors of a pornographic nature, which can lead to five years in prison and a fine of 75,000 euros, the prosecutor's office said.
Shein pulled the dolls from its website on Sunday, and on Monday imposed a total ban on sex dolls and suspended the "adult products" category on its platform.
($1 = 0.8575 euros)
(Reporting by Alessandro Parodi and Gabriel Stargardter. Editing by Tomasz Janowski and Mark Potter)
Compliance refers to the process of ensuring that a company adheres to laws, regulations, and guidelines relevant to its business operations.
Retail trade involves the sale of goods or services directly to consumers for personal use, typically through physical or online stores.
Consumer perception is how customers view and interpret a brand or product based on their experiences, beliefs, and marketing messages.
A financial crisis is a situation where the value of financial institutions or assets drops significantly, leading to widespread economic instability.
An investigation is a systematic inquiry to uncover facts or information about a specific issue or event, often conducted by authorities.
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