French Authorities Examines Shein and Temu After Sex Doll Controversy
Online retailers such as these four major platforms are presently under investigation in France for the charge of permitting underage individuals to obtain pornographic content on their services, the French judicial authorities announced on Tuesday.
The country's regulatory body had brought to light the retailers to the judicial system on this past Sunday after raising concerns about the marketing of youth-resembling adult toys on their online marketplace in recent days.
The French judicial officials clarified that the online services are being examined over harmful, adult or “undignified” messages that can be viewed by young people.
AliExpress asserted that it views the issue very seriously. These companies have also been approached for a statement.
Broader Probes and Company Responses
These platforms are furthermore facing probes over the distribution of information related to minors that are of a pornographic character, the office revealed.
The matters have been referred to a specialized police unit, the investigative team noted. This office is an arm of the national police that supervises the protection of minors.
AliExpress commented that the products in dispute violated its policies and were taken down once it became aware of them.
"Sellers determined to violate or attempting to evade these requirements will be disciplined in line with our guidelines," AliExpress declared in a statement.
On this Monday, the company confirmed it had banned the sale of all intimate products on its marketplace worldwide. The headquartered in Singapore firm also mentioned that it would terminate all merchant IDs involved in the unlawful transaction of the minor-looking products and implement stricter safeguards on its service.
Regulatory Body Assessment and Larger Background
The French consumer watchdog, the DGCCRF, had said that the sex dolls' listing details and classification left "minimal uncertainty as to the child pornography nature" of the items.
The investigation of the platform coincides with the firm, which was established in the People's Republic of China, makes arrangements for the launch on this Wednesday of its first permanent physical shop in France.
Protesters have been observed assembled in outside the Paris retail outlet where Shein is scheduled to unveil the outlet.
The retailer aims to launch outlets in other French retail chains in urban centers such as these regional hubs.
