EU investigates Shein for allowing sale of illegal items

Chinese fast fashion giant Shein is having a tough time in Europe, with the EU investigating it for possible digital law violations, including past reports of childlike sex dolls sold on its platform.
In November, the French government suspended access to Shein’s website after sex toys that look like kids were listed for sale.

While Shein claims it has since removed such items and banned the responsible sellers, regulators are examining whether the company’s internal systems are robust enough to prevent a reappearance of prohibited items on the platform.

If authorities find Shein liable, it could face massive fines of up to 6% of its global annual revenue, which reached $38 billion in 2024.

Shein’s first store opening in France also sparked protests and backlash, amid accusations that it is exploiting cheap labor and violating environmental standards.