France moves to suspend Shein website as it opens first store in Paris

The French government says it has launched proceedings to suspend the online platform of Asian online giant Shein after prosecutors said they were investigating the company over childlike sex dolls found on its website.

Ministry of Economy, upon the instructions of the Prime Minister Trials will continue “as long as necessary” “The platform must prove to the authorities that all its content complies with our laws and regulations.”

The government’s move was announced just over an hour after Shein opened its first physical store in the world on the sixth floor of the BHV department store in Paris.

Protesters chanted “Shame!” As he shouted, shoppers lined up to enter the store. them.

Shein pledged to fully cooperate with Paris prosecutors who are also investigating three other platforms, Temu, AliExpress and Wish. Allegations about the sale of childlike sex dolls on Shein first came to light over the weekend from France’s anti-fraud office.

Shein said in a statement that it had temporarily suspended listings from independent third-party sellers on its marketplace and tightened the rules on how those sellers operate.

“This suspension allows us to strengthen accountability and ensure that every product complies with our standards and legal obligations,” said Quentin Ruffat, the company’s head of public relations in France.

BHV’s decision to host the fast fashion giant has angered rival clothing brands, with some saying they will leave the prestigious store in protest.

Protests against the opening continued inside the store, with one person spraying a foul-smelling spray.

Shein is best known for its discounted and trendy clothing, but has faced criticism for its environmental impact and working conditions.

Fashion designer Agnès B has previously said she will close her franchise at BHV when her contract ends in January.

“I am completely against this fast fashion… jobs are under threat, it’s very bad,” he told French radio.

Shein spokesman Quentin Ruffat has previously promised to provide information on its site about sellers, buyers and products involved in the sale of childlike sex dolls.

AliExpress told the BBC it was taking the matter very seriously.

Temu said he was not involved in the case and did not allow such items to be sold on his platform, although he told the BBC he was working with French authorities “to strengthen our little protection mechanism”. Wish has also been contacted for comment.

Frédéric Merlin, owner of SGM, the company that operates BHV, admitted that the department store was considering ending its partnership with the retailer.

But he said Shein’s response “convinced me to continue” and expressed confidence in the products he would sell in his store. “The clothes we will sell do not exploit workers or children,” he told French radio.

Founded in China, Shein plans to open sales points in Galeries Lafayette stores operated by SGM in seven more cities. However, Galeries Lafayette has refused to have anything to do with Shein and will withdraw his name from stores in Angers, Dijon, Grenoble, Le Mans, Limoges, Orléans and Reims.

The Paris prosecutor’s office said Shein and three other e-commerce platforms were being investigated for violent, pornographic or “profane messages” that minors could access.

Shein and AliExpress are also under investigation for the dissemination of pornographic content related to children, the prosecutor’s office said.

The prosecutor’s office added that the cases were referred to the Paris Office des Mineurs. The office is a branch of the French police force that oversees the protection of minors.

AliExpress said the listings in question violated its policies and were removed after it was made aware of them.

“Sellers found to have violated or attempted to circumvent these requirements will be punished in accordance with our rules,” AliExpress said in a statement. he said.

On Monday, Shein said it was banning the sale of all sex dolls on its platform worldwide. The Singapore-based retailer also said it would permanently block all seller accounts involved in the illegal sale of childlike dolls and impose stricter controls on its platform.

French consumer watchdog the Directorate-General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control said the definition and classification of sex dolls left “little doubt as to the nature of child pornography” of the products.