France is urging the European Union to open an investigation into the Singapore-based e-commerce website Shein over sales of illegal items like child-like sex dolls and weapons in its online marketplace.
French Minister of Economy Roland Lescure and Deputy Minister of AI Anne Le Henanff wrote a letter to European Commission Vice-President Henna Virkkunen, who is responsible for competition and tech sovereignty. The French government also initiated its own procedure to suspend Shein’s online marketplace from operating in France until it complies with French law. The suspension may become effective if Shein fails to remove the illegal items from its marketplace.
In the letter to the Commission, the ministers ask the EU “to fully exercise its prerogatives, including through the adoption of interim measures against the platform.”
The fast-fashion company falls under the most stringent scrutiny of the Digital Services Act (DSA) of the EU. These include specific measures to protect users, increased transparency for its resellers, and stricter rules against the sale of counterfeit and illegal products.
France found that Shein sells sex dolls with child-like features, plus various so-called Class A weapons, like firearms, big knives and machetes, plus other war materials that are illegal to be sold in the open market. The EU can intervene and request that Shein comply under the DSA. Should Shein fail to do so, the Commission can suspend the website throughout the whole EU and fine the company for up to 6% of its annual profits.
