France urges EU to investigate Shein for selling illegal items including child-like sex dolls

France has called on the European Union to launch an investigation into fast-fashion giant Shein over allegations that the online retailer sold illegal items, including child-like sex dolls and weapons, on its platform.

In a letter to European Commission Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen, two French ministers urged immediate action against the retailer, requesting “the adoption of interim measures against the platform.” The French government has already initiated procedures to suspend access to Shein’s online marketplace within France until the company can prove its compliance with national laws.

“The repeated marketing of illegal content shows that the platform has failed to comply with its obligations under the Digital Services Act, particularly in terms of protecting minors, combating illegal content, and ensuring the traceability of its sellers,” wrote French ministers Roland Lescure and Anne Le Henanff in their letter, which was provided Thursday by France’s finance ministry.

French officials reported discovering not just child-like sex dolls but also “large quantities” of illegal “Class A” weapons on the platform, including firearms, large knives, machetes, and war material. The finance ministry warned that if these prohibited items remain available on the site, authorities may move forward with suspending Shein’s operations in France.

The ministers emphasized that Shein is bound by the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), a comprehensive regulatory framework designed to ensure safer online spaces for users across the European Union. The DSA imposes strict requirements on digital platforms to prevent the spread of illegal content and protect vulnerable users, particularly minors.

Last year, the European Commission designated Shein as a “very large online platform,” placing it under heightened regulatory scrutiny. This classification applies to platforms with more than 45 million European users, requiring them to implement specific measures to protect online users and assess potential “systemic risks” from their services, including limiting the sale of illegal or counterfeit products.

Non-compliance with DSA rules could result in severe penalties for Shein, including potential suspension of services across the EU and fines of up to 6% of the company’s annual profits – a significant financial threat to the retailer’s European operations.

Founded in China in 2012 and now headquartered in Singapore, Shein has rapidly expanded to become one of the world’s largest fast-fashion retailers. The company’s business model relies on a vast network of suppliers producing thousands of new items daily at extremely low prices, targeting primarily young consumers through aggressive social media marketing.

In response to the French government’s actions, Shein has pledged to cooperate with authorities to “address any concerns swiftly.” However, this is not the first time the company has faced regulatory challenges in Europe. Critics have previously raised concerns about the company’s labor practices, environmental impact, and product safety standards.

The case highlights growing regulatory pressure on large online platforms operating in the European Union, as authorities increasingly focus on consumer protection and safety in digital marketplaces. The EU’s Digital Services Act, which came into full effect for very large online platforms in early 2023, represents one of the most comprehensive attempts globally to regulate digital services and create safer online environments.

For Shein, which has ambitious expansion plans in Europe, resolving these regulatory issues quickly will be crucial to maintaining market access in one of its key growth regions. The outcome of this case may also set important precedents for how the DSA will be enforced against other major online retailers and marketplaces operating across the European Union.