Sex doll scandal: France wants to block Shein

France initiates proceedings to block Shein: Because the Chinese online retailer offered sex dolls resembling children, it is now to disappear from France for the time being. The government has initiated corresponding proceedings, the office of Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced, according to Reuters.

This step was already threatened by the French government in recent days: The French competition and consumer protection authority DGCCRF found that Shein was offering sex dolls with a child-like appearance. "Their description and categorization on the site make it difficult to doubt the child pornography nature of the content," the Ministry of Economy explained.

Shein reacted and removed the products in question from its range. The discount retailer also announced an internal investigation. "This type of content is completely unacceptable and goes against all the values we defend." Corrective measures would be taken immediately, wrote the French department of Shein in an X post. There was no immediate reaction to the actual blocking.

Initial interim conclusion within 48 hours

"The planned blocking will apply until the platform can prove to the authorities that all content is permanently in compliance with French laws and regulations," Reuters quotes from a statement by the Ministry of Economy. According to Tagesschau, an interim conclusion is to be drawn within the next 48 hours.

On Wednesday, Shein opened a shop area in the well-known Parisian department store BHV. The opening was accompanied by protests.

(dahe)