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French Authorities Take Action Against Shein

Authorities in France have issued a warning regarding Shein, the online fast fashion retailer, after it was discovered that the platform was offering s*x dolls resembling children. This alarming finding prompted the Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control to take action.

The agency noted that the descriptions and classifications of these dolls were indicative of their child-po*nographic nature, leading to a referral to public prosecutors. Economy Minister Roland Lescure stated that if such incidents recur, he would advocate for Shein's ban from the French market.

Lescure emphasized that the law allows the government to prohibit access to the market in cases involving serious offenses like terrorism, drug trafficking, or child po*nography.

French law mandates that online platforms must remove illegal content, such as child po*nography, within 24 hours. Failure to comply can result in internet service providers being instructed to block access to the site.

The consumer watchdog has formally requested Shein to take immediate corrective actions. A spokesperson for Shein confirmed that the dolls were removed as soon as the company became aware of the issue and that an investigation is underway to understand how these listings bypassed their screening processes.

The spokesperson reiterated the company's commitment to preventing such occurrences in the future, stating, "Such content is completely unacceptable and goes against everything we stand for."

In addition, a parliamentary fact-finding mission is set to summon Shein officials for questioning regarding the incident. Rapporteur Antoine Vermorel-Marques remarked that no business can operate above the law and that Shein must provide a satisfactory explanation.

Under French law, distributing child-po*nographic materials via electronic networks can lead to severe penalties, including up to seven years in prison and hefty fines.

The watchdog also highlighted that Shein offers other adult-themed products without adequate age verification measures, raising concerns about minors accessing such content.

Founded in China in 2012 and now based in Singapore, Shein has rapidly grown into a global fast fashion leader, serving customers in 150 countries. However, the company has faced scrutiny over its labor practices and environmental impact.

Lescure's remarks come just ahead of Shein's first permanent store opening in Paris, which has sparked controversy and led to an online petition against the retailer, gathering over 100,000 signatures.