EU Launches Full Investigation Into Shein Over Child-Like Sex Dolls
European Commission opens formal DSA probe into Shein for selling products that may constitute child sexual abuse material.
The European Commission just dropped the hammer on Shein. Regulators have launched a full-scale Digital Services Act investigation into the Chinese e-commerce giant over sales of child-like sex dolls on its platform.
The products in question "could constitute child sexual abuse material," according to the Commission. That's about as serious as regulatory language gets.
Shein now faces potentially massive EU penalties. Under the DSA, platforms can be fined up to 6% of their global annual turnover for violations — a number that could sting badly for a company of Shein's scale.
The probe marks another escalation in Europe's aggressive enforcement of its landmark digital regulation. Shein, already under scrutiny for various business practices, now has to answer for what was being sold right under its nose.
The investigation moves from preliminary review to full formal proceedings.