Step up investigation of e-commerce platforms

VTV.vn - The French government is expanding its investigation into e-commerce platforms following the scandal of child sex dolls sold on the Shein e-commerce platform.

France steps up investigation into e-commerce platforms after Shein scandal

In addition to Shein, five other e-commerce platforms including Wish, Temu, AliExpress, eBay and Joom are currently under review by the Public Prosecution Service.

Previously, inspections conducted by the French General Directorate for Combating Commercial Fraud (DGCCRF) following the Shein incident revealed a series of serious violations on many major platforms. According to Minister Serge Papin, French authorities discovered that child porn dolls - products that are strictly prohibited in France - were sold on AliExpress and Joom platforms. Meanwhile, on Wish, Temu, AliExpress and eBay platforms, Class A weapons (the highest level of danger according to French regulations) were sold, including iron fists, machetes and dangerous offensive objects. In addition, Wish, Temu and Amazon platforms violated their obligations to filter content for minors by exposing pornographic content.

These new findings show that Shein is not an isolated case but just the “tip of the iceberg” of violations occurring on many international e-commerce platforms. According to Mr. Papin, the French government is studying legal procedures to partially or completely suspend the activities of platforms that do not comply with French law.

Not stopping at the national level, France wants to bring the issue to the European Union (EU) level. Mr. Papin said he will convene the Trade Ministers of the 27 EU countries in Paris on November 27 to agree on the rules for controlling imported e-commerce platforms. According to the French Government, strengthening coordination at the EU level is considered necessary in the face of the explosion of low-cost e-commerce platforms from Asia, which are taking up a large market share but do not comply with European legal and safety standards.

Regarding the Shein case, although all the infringing products have been removed, this e-commerce platform will continue to face many legal procedures. Next week, a Shein representative will be summoned to testify at the French National Assembly , as part of an investigation into import control. However, this platform has not yet confirmed its presence.

Source: https://vtv.vn/day-manh-dieu-tra-cac-nen-tang-thuong-mai-dien-tu-100251116091858475.htm