French Authorities Investigates Shein and Temu After Sex Doll Incident
Online retailers including these four major platforms are now being probed in France for the charge of permitting underage individuals to access adult content on their services, the prosecutor's office in Paris stated on Tuesday.
The country's consumer watchdog had reported the companies to the prosecution service on this past Sunday after voicing worries about the sale of minor-looking adult toys on their online marketplace during the weekend.
The French judicial officials noted that the platforms are being investigated over graphic, pornographic or inappropriate messages that can be seen by minors.
One of the platforms stated that it views the matter extremely earnestly. These companies have also been contacted for a statement.
Expanded Probes and Company Statements
Shein and AliExpress are also facing probes over the distribution of material related to minors that are of a pornographic nature, the authorities said.
The cases have been passed to the French minor protection office, the investigative team noted. This division is an arm of the national police that oversees the protection of minors.
AliExpress commented that the products in question violated its policies and were removed once it learned of them.
"Merchants discovered to flout or trying to evade these standards will be disciplined in line with our regulations," the company said in a official comment.
On this Monday, Shein confirmed it had outlawed the selling of every adult toys on its platform worldwide. The based in Singapore company also said that it would permanently block all seller accounts associated with the unlawful distribution of the youth-resembling dolls and set stricter safeguards on its website.
Regulatory Body Assessment and Broader Scenario
The regulatory authority, the DGCCRF, had said that the sex dolls' product information and grouping left "little doubt as to the illicit essence" of the merchandise.
The investigation of the platform coincides with the company, which was started in the People's Republic of China, gets ready for the opening on Wednesday of its inaugural permanent brick-and-mortar store in France.
Demonstrators have been seen assembled in near the French capital shop where the company is planned to unveil the location.
The retailer intends to inaugurate shops in further French shopping centers in cities including multiple French towns.
