Tue, 17 Feb 2026

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 Shein under EU investigation over childlike sex dolls

Europe is examining whether the fast fashion giant breached the Digital Services Act.

* The European Union (EU) has launched a formal investigation into fast fashion giant Shein over possible breaches of digital law.
* The investigation will examine whether Shein's systems prevent the sale of illegal products, including childlike sex dolls and weapons.
* Shein was previously reported to French authorities for selling "sex dolls with a childlike appearance" on its website.
* The EU is also investigating the addictive design of Shein's platform, particularly its rewards program and recommender systems.
* The Commission will examine whether Shein's recommender systems are transparent and provide users with options that do not rely on their data to profile their likely purchases.
* If found guilty, Shein could face fines of up to 6% of its global sales, which were $38bn in 2024.
* Shein has stated that it removes illegal products from its site immediately and works with authorities to investigate both buyers and sellers.
* The company claims to have invested significantly in measures to strengthen its compliance with the Digital Services Act (DSA).
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