French court rejects Shein website suspension over childlike sex dolls

A Paris court on Wednesday rejected the French government’s bid to suspend the Shein website over the sale of childlike sex dolls and weapons, ruling that a three‑month shutdown would be disproportionate. The decision, favoring access to the platform while imposing safeguards, leaves in place a framework to curb problematic items while allowing the site to operate in France. The court noted the seriousness of the problem but described the offending items as isolated among hundreds of thousands of products.

The judges did, however, order the e‑commerce giant to implement age‑verification measures for the sale of adult products and set fines of €10,000 for each breach. The ruling came after France’s consumer watchdog had referred the matter to authorities following an investigation that flagged the sale of “sex dolls with a childlike appearance” and weapons on the platform. Shein has said it will work with authorities to strengthen its compliance controls and protect French consumers.

In issuing the decision, the court acknowledged the concerns raised by the watchdog and lawmakers but emphasized that the observed violations involved a limited subset of items and were addressed by the company once brought to its attention. The ruling also stated that the issues did not reflect the overall nature of Shein’s catalog, which comprises hundreds of thousands of products. The court added that the company had already moved to remove the offending items from its site after being alerted.

The case arrived against a backdrop of public attention in Paris, where Shein opened its first physical store in the city around the time the legal action began. The store launch drew shoppers but also protests linked to the controversy over childlike sex dolls and the retailer’s fast‑fashion business model. In response to the initial uproar, Shein announced it would ban the sale of all sex dolls on its site internationally.

The court’s ruling also rejected a separate government request to suspend the sale of third‑party items hosted on Shein’s platform, a policy that would have further restricted access to products from external sellers. While the suspension was not upheld, the decision to require age verification for adult items and to impose penalties for breaches signals a continued government focus on consumer protection in France’s online marketplace.

Shein’s statement following the ruling reiterated the company’s commitment to compliance: “We remain committed to continuously improving our control processes, in close collaboration with the French authorities, with the aim of establishing some of the most stringent standards in the industry. Our priority remains protecting French consumers and ensuring compliance with local laws and regulations.”

The outcome complements broader global scrutiny of Shein’s operations, as regulators in multiple jurisdictions probe product safety, child protection, and regulatory compliance within the platform’s vast marketplace. While the court’s decision avoids a broad shutdown, it underscores a regulatory environment in Europe that is increasingly willing to take concrete steps to curb problematic listings without crippling access to e‑commerce services.

For consumers in France, the ruling means continued access to Shein’s catalogue while with the expectation that age checks will be in place for adult items and that violations carry specific penalties. It also demonstrates the judiciary’s willingness to calibrate remedies to fit the scale of the issue, balancing consumer protection with maintaining e‑commerce access.

As Shein continues to expand its footprint in France, including the Paris store, the company will likely face ongoing scrutiny from authorities over how it moderates product listings, verifies information, and enforces restrictions on sensitive items. The court’s ruling provides a framework for those efforts, emphasizing that compliance measures must be concrete and enforceable while avoiding measures that excessively disrupt legitimate commerce.