A factory in China accused of producing “children's” sex dolls has been investigated by local authorities and ordered to cease production immediately.
The customizable dolls were reportedly sold on major online stores and social media platforms.
Chinese state news outlet The Paper reported that local officials attach “great importance” to the issue.
Last month, online retailer Shein, which started in China but is now headquartered in Singapore, banned the sale of all sex dolls worldwide after public outcry over the sale of dolls that looked like children.
At the time, the company said it had “strengthened its keyword blacklist to further prevent sellers from trying to circumvent product listing restrictions.”
Other e-commerce sites have also come under fire for selling sex dolls with childlike features.
AliExpress was investigated by French authorities over this matter.
Reuters reported this in November. that the Chinese company banned a seller who sold sex dolls after it “repeatedly denied ever selling sex toys on any platform,” AliExpress reported.
Sweden has also promised to take action against online stores selling such dolls.
“I now proceed from the principle that e-commerce companies take up their responsibilities and do everything possible to put an end to the marketing of sex dolls that look like children,” Social Services Minister Camilla Waltersson Grønvall told AFP.
“If we see that this evolution is not happening or is not enough, the government will not hesitate to take legislative action.”
Advances in artificial intelligence have made it easier to customize sex dolls ordered online, and some even have the ability keep the conversation going.
The newspaper said the factory, now under investigation, was one of several in southern Guangdong province that produced customized dolls with “child pornographic characteristics.”
