French government says it will 'suspend' online retailer Shein
The fast-fashion online retailer is among a number of platforms facing criminal probes in France, including over the sale of "child-like" sex dolls
The French government is taking steps to “suspend” fast-fashion online retailer Shein, according to a press release issued by Economy Minister Roland Lescure on Wednesday.
Lescure’s cabinet said that the decision to initiate a procedure suspending the Chinese-founded online platform from France was made by the prime minister, Sébastien Lecornu, and would remain in place until Shein is able to “demonstrate to the authorities that all of its content is finally in compliance” with French laws.
On Monday, Shein was referred to the Paris prosecutor’s office after the country’s consumer watchdog found “child-like” sex dolls for sale on its marketplace whose “description and categorisation on the site leave little doubt as to the child pornography nature of the content”.
Lescure said at the time that Shein could be banned in France if violations continued.
Per the government’s press release today, a “progress report” on the suspension will be made within 48 hours.
Under French law, websites can be blocked either by judicial authorities or an administrative authority, which may issue an injunction requiring the platform to remove illegal or illicit content within 24 hours. But it’s not clear exactly how Shein’s service might be made inaccessible in France under the government’s suspension procedure.
“We take note of today’s announcement by the government. The safety of our customers and the integrity of our Marketplace are our top priorities,” said Quentin Ruffat, director of external relations at Shein France in a statement.
The ecommerce company also said that it has temporarily suspended third party listings on its marketplace in France in order to focus on strengthening “accountability mechanisms and ensure that every product offered meets our standards and legal obligations”.
Amid this flurry of French enforcement on its digital marketplace, Shein opened its first physical shop in Paris on Wednesday.
Euractiv’s Théophane Hartmann contributed reporting
(nl)
