“`html

Shein Faces French Ban⁢ Threat‍ Over Childlike Sex Dolls

What Happened?

Shein has said it⁤ will ⁢co-operate with investigations by French authorities after finance minister Roland Lescure threatened to ‍ban ‍the controversial online retailer from the country for selling childlike sex dolls on its ⁣marketplace.

French ‍authorities opened an investigation⁣ into Shein and three other ecommerce platforms on Monday after receiving alerts about sex dolls resembling children being‍ sold by multiple third party sellers‍ on their sites.

“We ⁣will co-operate 100 per cent with⁣ the justice ⁤system,” Shein spokesman Quentin Ruffat told RMC radio ⁣on Tuesday.

“I‍ have heard the concerns of the children’s commissioner … these issues of child sexual abuse are ⁢too serious to be ignored,” ⁣he added.

Context and Importance

The controversy ‍comes a day before Shein is due to open its first permanent store in Paris. The⁤ China-founded retailer’s ⁣expansion plans have been met with vocal opposition from businesspeople, consumers and politicians in France.

Shein said it had suspended its “adult products” category ⁣on its marketplace ⁤and imposed a global⁢ ban on sex doll sales.

The retailer, which is best known for selling ⁤cheap women’s fashion⁢ produced under its own brand, launched a⁢ broader online ‍marketplace for third party sellers in 2023.

Shein’s response and Internal Review

Donald Tang, Shein’s‍ executive chair, said that “every⁢ related product has been removed.We ‍are ‍tracing the source and will take swift, decisive⁤ action against those responsible. We will ⁤also ⁣review our‍ internal processes thoroughly and strengthen our safeguards to protect our customers and the ⁢integrity of our marketplace.”

Ruffat blamed “an internal dysfunction in ⁢our processes and governance” for the listings.