The U.S. Congress has formally demanded an explanation from global fast-fashion corporation Shein over the possibility that it sold "adult dolls with the appearance of young children." After French regulators considered sanctions against Shein over the same issue, controversy over whether it facilitates child sexual exploitation is rapidly spreading in the United States as well.
According to Axios on the 20th (local time), the issue surfaced in a letter sent to Shein's chief executive officer. Lawmakers said, "The Shein website may have been used to sell infant-like adult dolls to U.S. consumers," adding, "There is no doubt this encourages child abuse and exploitation." They particularly took issue with the fact that Shein's social impact and sustainability report published this year explicitly states that "products that encourage child exploitation are prohibited for sale," yet such products were actually distributed.
International concern over the sale of the dolls in question is also growing. In France, the consumer protection authority defined the dolls as being "at a level that evokes child pornography" and warned that it would expel Shein from the market.
Shein moved quickly to offer an explanation. A Shein Spokesperson said, "Following the French report, we imposed strong sanctions on third-party sellers involved in the sale of child-like dolls," and added, "We have now completely banned all adult doll products." Shein Chair Donald Tang said, "We confirmed that the product in question was listed by an external seller," and noted, "We will trace the source and take firm action against those responsible."
However, lawmakers say that explanation alone is not sufficient. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (Democrat–Florida) and Vern Buchanan (Republican–Florida), who led the letter, criticized, "We welcome Shein's ban, but the very fact that such products appeared on the platform is unacceptable." They demanded that Shein submit detailed materials by on the 20th of next month, including whether the dolls in question were ever sold to U.S. consumers, how the verification system works, and what the criteria are for sanctioning sellers.
Congress is already pushing separate legislation on the matter. Buchanan and Jared Moskowitz (Democrat–Florida) co-sponsored a bill earlier this year to ban the import, sale, distribution, and possession of "adult dolls resembling children." The bill was introduced after a woman in Florida revealed that "my daughter's face was stolen and used to make and sell an adult doll online."
Lawmakers said, "It is deeply shocking that a major global platform allowed the distribution of products that could encourage child sexual exploitation," and emphasized, "As long as the production and distribution of such products continue, eradicating child sexual exploitation is impossible."