France has ordered Shein to implement stronger compliance controls for products sold on its platform, but has withdrawn its earlier demand for a three-month suspension. The initial request followed the discovery of childlike sex dolls and banned weapons listed on the site.
During a Paris court hearing, a state lawyer asked judges to suspend Shein’s marketplace until it demonstrates effective compliance measures to the French communications regulator Arcom. The lawyer stressed that the government’s goal is to “prevent harm, faced with things that are unacceptable,” not to override the European Commission’s regulatory authority.
Specific Demands and Legal Basis
The state is requiring Shein to implement age-verification tools and filtering systems to block minors from accessing pornographic content. The case is being pursued under Article 6.3 of France’s digital economy law, which allows judges to order measures preventing or stopping harm caused by online content.
Shein had already disabled its marketplace in France on Nov. 5 after the illegal listings were found. Its main site selling Shein-branded clothing remains accessible, as previously reported by MBN.
The Paris prosecutor’s office previously noted that a three-month suspension could be considered “disproportionate” under European Court of Human Rights case law if Shein proves it has halted all illegal sales. Still, prosecutors support the government’s demand for Shein to present evidence of corrective actions.
Broader Regulatory Scrutiny
France’s move comes amid heightened EU scrutiny of platforms such as Shein and Temu under the Digital Services Act (DSA), reflecting growing concerns over consumer safety, illegal goods, and competitive imbalances.
In the United States, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton also launched an investigation this week into whether Shein violated state laws related to unethical labor practices and unsafe consumer products.