(qlmbusinessnews.com . Thu 6th Nov, 2025) London, UK —
Major Online Retailers Under Scrutiny in France for Selling Pornographic Content to Minors
France Investigates Online Giants Over Child Pornography Allegations
In a significant development from Paris, online retail behemoths Shein, Temu, AliExpress, and Wish are currently under investigation by French authorities. Accusations have been levelled against these platforms for purportedly facilitating access to pornographic content for minors, as announced by the Paris prosecutor.
The investigation was triggered following a complaint lodged by France's consumer rights watchdog over the weekend, voicing grave concerns regarding the sale of childlike sex dolls on Shein's website. The Paris prosecutor's office has since expanded the scope of the inquiry to examine the presence of violent, pornographic, or undignified content accessible to minors across these platforms.
Responding to queries from the Reporters, representatives from AliExpress emphasised their commitment to addressing these serious allegations, asserting that any listings that breached their platform's policies have been expeditiously removed. Despite reaching out, comments are still awaited from Shein, Temu, and Wish regarding the situation.
Further compounding the issue, Shein and AliExpress find themselves under specific scrutiny for disseminating child pornography-related content, divulged the prosecutor's office. The investigation has been handed over to Paris' specialised division, the Office des Mineurs, focused on protecting minors.
In a proactive response to the rising controversy, AliExpress has declared a stringent stance against vendors attempting to flout platform rules, indicating severe penalties for any infractions. Meanwhile, Shein, in a move to mitigate the fallout, has announced a global ban on the sale of all sex dolls through its platform. The Singapore-based retailer also committed to permanently disabling all seller accounts implicated in the illegal sale of childlike dolls, alongside instituting more rigorous checks within its system.
The investigation was spurred on by warnings from the French Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control, which pointed out the undeniable child pornography elements in the descriptions and classifications of the sex dolls in question.
This scrutiny comes at a particularly pivotal moment for Shein as the company, originally established in China, anticipates the grand opening of its first permanent physical shop in France. Protest activities have been reported at the Paris department store designated for Shein's inaugural outlet, highlighting the public backlash.
Despite the ongoing investigation, Shein has outlined plans to continue its expansion within France, targeting department stores in several cities including Dijon, Reims, and Angers for forthcoming outlets.
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