European lawmakers are intensifying scrutiny of global fast-fashion retailer Shein after French authorities discovered listings for "child-like" sex dolls and illegal weapons on the company's online marketplace. The findings prompted immediate legal action in France and triggered a wider political push in Brussels to determine whether Shein violated the European Union's Digital Services Act, the sweeping regulatory framework governing online platforms with tens of millions of users.
The French government initiated legal proceedings after the Directorate-General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control identified prohibited products, including child-like dolls and items such as firearms, knives and machetes. The discovery coincided with the opening of Shein's first physical store in Paris at BHV Marais, amplifying public criticism and bringing the platform under heightened scrutiny from regulators and lawmakers.
Members of the European Parliament prepared to vote on a resolution urging the European Commission to investigate Shein and ensure the DSA is enforced. The vote, scheduled during the 24-27 November plenary session, signals a growing consensus that major e-commerce platforms must be held accountable for illegal products distributed through their networks of third-party sellers. French Finance Minister Roland Lescure described the issue as "extremely serious," warning that ongoing violations could lead to Shein being banned from operating in France.
According to the DGCCRF, some dolls measured as small as 80 centimetres and were depicted holding toys or posed in ways that authorities said could breach child protection and pornography laws. Under French law, distributing paedopornographic material online can carry prison sentences of up to seven years and fines of up to €100,000. Prosecutors received the DGCCRF's findings on 1 November, launching the investigation that rapidly expanded across multiple agencies.
Shein responded by removing the listings globally between 2 and 4 November and suspending implicated third-party sellers in France. The company said the items originated from outside vendors, not Shein itself, and pledged to cooperate with authorities. After demonstrating initial compliance, Shein avoided an immediate takedown order; however, officials said monitoring would intensify as legal proceedings continued.
The European Commission later issued a formal request for documentation on Shein's compliance with DSA obligations, including internal content filtering systems, seller verification procedures, protections for minors, and traceability requirements. Shein was designated a Very Large Online Platform in April 2024, meaning it must proactively identify risks and prevent illegal content from appearing before users encounter it. The Commission had already sent two Requests for Information earlier in the year regarding illegal goods and minor safety.
As lawmakers debated the case, French authorities escalated their response. By 29 November, they sought a three-month suspension of Shein's website in France through an accelerated judicial process, Reuters reported. Regulators across Europe now argue that the discovery of child-like dolls and banned weapons raises urgent questions about whether Shein met its DSA duties before the scandal emerged.
If found in violation, Shein could face penalties of up to 6% of global annual revenue. In severe cases, the DSA allows temporary suspension of platform operations across the EU. Such enforcement action would test the bloc's ability to regulate global e-commerce marketplaces that depend on extensive third-party seller networks.
