A massively popular e-commerce site has been accused of selling controversial sex dolls.
“Controversial” in that French authorities claimed these dolls looked “childlike” in appearance.
BBC reports that the Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF) — the country’s consumer watchdog — has accused China-founded, fast-fashion giant Shein of selling “sex dolls with a childlike appearance.”
The dolls in question, The Telegraph explains, were crafted as girls roughly three feet in height. Their hair was braided, and they also appear to be clutching a teddy bear in pictures of the product.
According to Le Monde, the DGCCRF on Saturday claimed the “description and categorization” of these dolls “make it difficult to doubt the child pornography nature of the content.”
The office warned that “the dissemination, via an electronic communications network, of child pornography is punishable by up to seven years’ imprisonment and a fine of €100,000 [$115,2920],” Le Monde states.
Shein confirmed these dolls had been taken down from its platform shortly after the watchdog’s statement.
“The products in question were immediately delisted as soon as we became aware of these serious issues,” the e-commerce site confirmed to the BBC.
Still, France has threatened to ban Shein altogether should a similar incident arise, CNN Business states.
“I want to be very clear: If these behaviors are repeated, we will be entitled to … band access to the French market for the Shein platform,” French finance minister Roland Lescure said to BFMTV on Monday. “These horrible objects are illegal.”
Shein confirmed it is “investigating how these listenings circumvented our screening measures.” The company is additionally “conducting a comprehensive review to identify and remove any similar items that may be listed on our marketplace by other third-party vendors.”
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