Shein Implements Global Ban on Sex Dolls Following French Investigation into Child-Like Products

The Paris prosecutor's office has initiated investigations against Shein following serious concerns.

Asian e-commerce behemoth Shein announced on Monday that it would implement a global ban on sex dolls across all its platforms after French authorities condemned the company for listing products resembling children.

France's finance minister had issued a stern warning, threatening to prohibit the retailer from operating in the country if it resumed selling childlike dolls, just days before Shein's planned opening of its first physical store in Paris.

The Paris prosecutor's office confirmed launching investigations targeting Shein, as well as competing online marketplaces AliExpress, Temu, and Wish, regarding the sale of sex dolls.

These investigations focus on the distribution of "messages that are violent, pornographic or improper, (and) accessible to minors," according to an official statement to AFP.

The probes were initiated after France's anti-fraud unit reported on Saturday that Shein was selling "childlike" dolls of an apparently pornographic nature.

French newspaper Le Parisien published an image of one such doll available on the platform, accompanied by explicitly sexual descriptive text.

The doll depicted in the photo measured approximately 80 centimeters (30 inches) tall and was shown holding a teddy bear.

Shortly following the fraud watchdog's announcement, Shein confirmed the dolls had been removed from its platform and stated that an internal investigation had been launched.

In a subsequent Monday statement, the company announced the implementation of a "total ban on sex-doll-type products" and confirmed the deletion of all listings and images related to such items.

A spokesperson informed AFP that this prohibition would apply globally.

"These publications came from third-party vendors, but I take personal responsibility," declared Shein's chief executive Donald Tang.

France's Finance Minister Roland Lescure issued a warning on Monday that he would move to ban the company from the French market if such items reappeared online.

"These horrible items are illegal," he stated to BFMTV broadcaster, guaranteeing a judicial investigation would follow.

Shein announced the formation of a dedicated team to ensure content "integrity" across its sales platform.

France's high commissioner for childhood, Sarah El Hairy, revealed that several websites were under investigation, following French media reports that Chinese shopping platform AliExpress offered identical dolls.

AliExpress responded by stating it had immediately removed the items from its website.

The anti-fraud office later announced on Monday that it was pursuing legal action against AliExpress for selling "child-porn-style dolls".

Shein is scheduled to open its first physical retail location worldwide this Wednesday inside the prestigious BHV Marais department store in central Paris, a development that has generated significant controversy in France.

Frederic Merlin, director of the company owning BHV, acknowledged that selling childlike dolls was "unacceptable," but defended his decision to welcome Shein into the department store on Monday.

"Only clothes and items conceived directly by Shein for BHV will be sold in store," he clarified.

Shein, a Singapore-based corporation originally established in China, has faced persistent criticism regarding working conditions in its factories and the environmental impact of its ultra-fast fashion business model.

Several brands have withdrawn their products from BHV Marais following the announcement.

France has already imposed fines on Shein three times in 2025, totaling 191 million euros ($220 million).

These penalties were levied for non-compliance with online cookie legislation, false advertising, misleading information, and failing to declare the presence of plastic microfibers in its products.

The European Commission is also investigating Shein regarding risks associated with illegal products, while EU lawmakers have approved legislation aimed at reducing the environmental impact of fast fashion.