France investigates Shein and Temu after sex doll scandal

On-line retailers Shein, Temu, AliExpress and Want are being investigated in France in relation to the offence of enabling minors to entry pornographic content material on their platforms, the Paris prosecutor stated on Tuesday.The nation’s client watchdog had reported the 4 corporations to the prosecution service on Sunday after elevating issues in regards to the sale of childlike intercourse dolls on Shein’s platform over the weekend.The Paris prosecutor’s workplace instructed the BBC that the platforms are being investigated over violent, pornographic or “undignified messages” that may be accessed by minors.The BBC has contacted the businesses for remark.Shein and AliExpress are additionally below investigation over the dissemination of content material associated to kids which are of a pornographic nature, the workplace stated.The instances have been referred to Paris’ Workplace des Mineurs, which oversees the safety of minors, the prosecution service added.On Monday, Shein stated it had banned the sale of all intercourse dolls on its platform worldwide. The Singapore-based retailer additionally stated that it might completely block all vendor accounts associated to the unlawful sale of the childlike dolls and set stricter controls on its platform.The French client watchdog, the Directorate Normal for Competitors, Shopper Affairs and Fraud Management, had stated the intercourse dolls’ description and categorisation left “little doubt as to the kid pornography nature” of the merchandise.The scrutiny of Shein comes as the corporate, which was based in China, prepares for the opening on Wednesday of its first everlasting bodily outlet in France .Protesters have been seen gathered in entrance of the Paris division retailer the place Shein is about to open the outlet.Shein plans to open shops in different French department shops in cities together with Dijon, Reims and Angers.