Online retailers Shein, Temu, AliExpress and Wish are being investigated in France for crimes related to providing minors with access to pornographic content on their platforms, a Paris prosecutor said on Tuesday.
The country's consumer watchdog reported the four firms to prosecutors on Sunday after raising concerns about sale of children's sex dolls on the Shein platform over the weekend.
The Paris prosecutor's office told the BBC the platforms were being investigated over violent, pornographic or “indecent messages” that could be accessed by minors.
AliExpress told the BBC it takes the matter very seriously. Shein, Temu and Vish were also contacted for comment.
Shein and AliExpress are also under investigation for distributing pornographic content related to children, the department said.
The cases have been transferred to the Paris Mining Authority, the prosecutor's office added. This is a unit of the French police that oversees the protection of minors.
AliExpress said the ads in question violated its policies and were removed as soon as they were reported.
“Sellers found to be violating or attempting to circumvent these requirements will be punished in accordance with our policies,” AliExpress said in a statement.
Shein said on Monday that Banned the sale of all sex dolls on its platform worldwide. The Singapore retailer also said it would permanently block all seller accounts linked to the illegal sale of children's dolls and introduce stricter controls on its platform.
France's consumer watchdog, the Directorate General of Competition, Consumer Affairs and Anti-Fraud, said the description and classification of the sex dolls left “little doubt about the child pornography” of the products.
The spotlight on Shein comes as the China-based company prepares to open its first permanent physical store in France on Wednesday.
Protesters were seen gathering in front of the Paris department store where Shein plans to open a store.
Shein plans open stores in other French department stores in cities such as Dijon, Reims and Angers.
