French Authorities Examines Online Retail Giants Following Sex Doll Scandal
Online retailers featuring these four major platforms are now under investigation in France for the charge of permitting youngsters to view pornographic material on their websites, the Paris prosecutor stated on Tuesday.
The country's consumer watchdog had reported the four firms to the prosecution service on Sunday after expressing concerns about the marketing of youth-resembling sex dolls on their online marketplace in recent days.
The Paris prosecutor's office noted that the online services are being investigated over harmful, explicit or “undignified” content that can be accessed by minors.
AliExpress stated that it considers the issue extremely earnestly. The other retailers have also been approached for a statement.
Wider Probes and Company Responses
These platforms are furthermore being examined over the distribution of material involving minors that are of a pornographic type, the authorities revealed.
The matters have been passed to a specialized police unit, the legal body explained. This unit is an branch of the French police force that supervises the safeguarding of minors.
AliExpress asserted that the products in concern breached its guidelines and were removed once it learned of them.
"Sellers determined to break or attempting to evade these requirements will be sanctioned in compliance with our rules," the platform declared in a release.
On Monday, the retailer announced it had banned the selling of all intimate products on its marketplace globally. The based in Singapore company also stated that it would permanently block all merchant IDs associated with the illegal sale of the youth-resembling dolls and set stricter measures on its website.
Agency Assessment and Wider Background
The regulatory authority, the consumer protection directorate, had remarked that the sex dolls' description and grouping left "clear indication as to the illicit character" of the merchandise.
The investigation of the platform coincides with the firm, which was started in the People's Republic of China, makes arrangements for the inauguration on Wednesday of its maiden permanent real-world store in the French Republic.
Protesters have been observed assembled in near the French capital department store where the company is scheduled to open the store.
Shein intends to open stores in additional France's retail chains in cities like Dijon, Reims and Angers.