EU Requests Shein Data on Illegal Products in France

The European Commission has formally requested detailed information from the Chinese fast-fashion platform Shein under the European Union's Digital Services Act, following discoveries of illegal products for sale on its site in France. The move, announced on Wednesday, targets concerns over childlike sex dolls and Category A weapons, with officials suspecting the platform poses a systemic risk to consumers across the bloc.

The request stems from an investigation by French consumer authorities, which identified the prohibited items among offerings from third-party sellers. Shein, designated as a very large online platform under the DSA, is required to conduct due diligence on products, remove illegal content promptly upon awareness, and protect users, including minors, from harmful material. The Commission is seeking comprehensive internal documentation on Shein's measures to prevent such sales and safeguard young users. This marks the third such information request from the Commission to Shein this year, including one in February, though no formal investigation has been launched yet.

In response to the French probe, Shein disabled its third-party marketplace in France on...