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 categorization of the dolls, saying it left little doubt as to the child pornography nature of the content. Shein stated on Monday 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.
Every listing and image related to the sex dolls has been removed, and Shein has temporarily removed its adult products category as a precaution. The company has announced plans to conduct a thorough review, including stricter controls on sellers and strengthening its keyword blacklist to prevent circumvention of product listing restrictions.
Donald Tang, the firm's executive chairman, emphasized that the fight against child exploitation is non-negotiable for Shein, stating, These were marketplace listings from third-party sellers - but I take this personally. Tang added that the company is tracing the source of the listings to take swift action against those responsible.
France's Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control initially raised concerns about the dolls on Saturday. In response, Shein assured that it would investigate how these products were allowed for sale on its platform. France's finance minister even threatened to ban the Singapore-based retailer if it continued to sell such products, coinciding with Shein's plan to open its first permanent outlet in Paris.
Protests have been noted outside the BHV department store in Paris, where the Shein outlet is set to open this week. The brand has faced criticism in the past over its environmental impact and working conditions for those making its products.
