Online retail giant Shein says it has banned the sale of all sex dolls on its platform around the world, after being accused of displaying products with a childlike appearance on its website.
The French consumer watchdog first raised concerns at the weekend over the description and categorisation of the dolls, saying it left little doubt as to the child pornography nature of the content.
The company announced that it has permanently banned all seller accounts linked to illegal or non-compliant sex-doll products and will tighten controls across its global platform.
Shein also stated it has temporarily removed its adult products category as a precaution. Every listing and image related to the sex dolls has been expunged from Shein's platform, with plans to implement stricter controls on sellers.
Shein's executive chairman Donald Tang expressed, The fight against child exploitation is non-negotiable for Shein. These were marketplace listings from third-party sellers - but I take this personally.
He added, We are tracing the source and will take swift, decisive action against those responsible.
France's Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control initially raised concerns on Saturday, leading Shein to investigate how these products made it to their site.
Moreover, France's finance minister threatened a potential ban on the Singapore-based retailer if it continued selling such items, especially with Shein planning to open its first permanent outlet in Paris.
The brand has faced scrutiny over its environmental impact and working conditions, making this incident a pivotal moment in its operational strategy.
