Court in Paris does not allow blocking Shein: after the scandal with “illegal goods”, the platform was given new conditions
22 December 19:26
A court in Paris has rejected the French government’s request to temporarily suspend the Chinese online platform Shein in France for three months. This is reported by France 24, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
The authorities insisted on blocking the service due to user complaints and the discovery of goods prohibited by French law.
Among them are sex dolls that look like children, banned drugs, and weapons.
What the government says
The French authorities demanded a complete shutdown of Shein with the possibility of restoring access only after the introduction of stricter mechanisms for controlling content and goods. Officials pointed to the threat to public order and the need to prevent the recurrence of such cases.
What the court’s decision says
The Paris court recognized that the situation caused “serious damage to public order” but concluded that the sale of the prohibited goods was sporadic. The court also took into account that the Shein platform had already removed these items from its catalog.
At the same time, the court ordered Shein’s management not to resume selling goods that may contain pornographic content without introducing effective mechanisms to verify the age of customers.
Will the platform be fully accessible
Despite the refusal to immediately block the platform, according to the lawyers, the unblocking of Shein in France will be gradual, not instantaneous and not in full. This means that the marketplace will remain under enhanced control for some time to come.
What we know about the Shein scandal in France
The Shein scandal in France broke out after sex dolls resembling children were found in the platform’s catalog. As part of the procedure for a possible suspension of operations, all Shein cargo at Roissy-Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris was sent for additional inspection.
The Shein case is being considered against the backdrop of broader discussions in the EU on controlling online trade from third countries, including ideas to introduce duties on small parcels.
The court’s decision does not remove the risk of further sanctions from Shein. The French authorities and regulators retain the ability to intervene again if the platform violates the established requirements or reintroduces prohibited goods.
