France’s anti-fraud unit DGCCRF said it reported Shein for selling “sex dolls with a childlike appearance.” In its statement, the agency said the “description and categorisation” of the dolls “make it difficult to doubt the child pornography nature of the content.”

The dolls were about 80 centimetres (30 inches) tall. Le Parisien published a photo of one holding a teddy bear with an explicit caption.
DGCCRF official Alice Vilcot-Dutarte told Le Parisien, “Imagine a child randomly clicking on and coming across these products while browsing the site looking for a doll.”

Shein Removes Dolls and Starts Internal Probe

After the agency’s warning, Shein said it had withdrawn the dolls from its site. The company added that it had launched an internal investigation to find out how the items appeared online. The case has renewed criticism of Shein’s product monitoring and business ethics.

Controversy Ahead of Paris Store Launch

The incident came just days before Shein’s first physical store opening in Paris. The outlet will open on Wednesday at BHV Marais, a historic department store near City Hall.

The plan has already triggered outrage among some BHV Marais customers and luxury brands. Several brands have even pulled their products from the store in protest.

Shein Faces Heavy Fines and Ongoing Scrutiny

France has already fined Shein three times in 2025, totaling €191 million. The fines were for false advertising, violating cookie rules, misleading information, and failing to declare plastic microfibres in its clothes.

The DGCCRF 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 euros ($116,000).”

The case has been sent to French prosecutors and Arcom, France’s online and broadcasting regulator. The European Commission is also investigating Shein for selling illegal products. Meanwhile, EU lawmakers have approved new laws to reduce the environmental impact of fast fashion.