Paris: Global online retailer Shein has announced a worldwide ban on the sale of all sex dolls after facing backlash for featuring items with what officials described as ‘childlike appearances.’
The move follows a warning from France’s consumer watchdog, which raised serious concerns over the way the dolls were described and categorised, saying it left “little doubt as to the child pornography nature of the content.”
In response, Shein stated that it has permanently banned all seller accounts associated with illegal or non-compliant sex-doll products and temporarily suspended its adult products category as a precautionary measure. The company confirmed that every related listing and image has been removed from its global platform.
Shein also announced plans to tighten seller regulations, strengthen its keyword blacklist to block future violations, and conduct a full internal review to prevent similar issues.
Executive Chairman Donald Tang condemned the incident, emphasising that “the fight against child exploitation is non-negotiable for Shein.” Tang noted that while the listings originated from third-party sellers, the company is ‘tracing the source’ and will take ‘swift, decisive action’ against those responsible.
The controversy began when France’s Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF) raised the issue over the weekend. France’s finance minister went on to warn that the Singapore-based retailer could face a national ban if such products reappeared on its platform, just days before Shein’s first permanent store was set to open in Paris.
Protesters also gathered outside the BHV department store near Paris’s city hall, where the new Shein outlet is scheduled to open this week.
The company, already under scrutiny for its fast-fashion environmental footprint and alleged poor labour conditions, now faces renewed criticism as it works to restore its image and rebuild consumer trust.
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