Brussels: The European Commission announced Wednesday that it has issued a formal request for information to the Chinese e-commerce platform Shein under the Digital Services Act, following preliminary indications that illegal products were being offered on the platform.
According to Kuwait News Agency, the Commission stated that this action was prompted by the detection of illegal product sales in France and various public reports. These reports have raised suspicions that Shein's operating system may pose "wide-scale risks" to consumers throughout all EU member states.
The illegal products identified on the platform include child-like dolls and weapons, which have sparked concerns about systemic risks to consumers across the European Union. Consequently, the Commission has sought detailed information and internal documents from Shein regarding its mechanisms to protect minors from age-inappropriate content, especially focusing on age-verification measures. Additionally, clarifications have been requested on how Shein prevents the circulation of illegal products and the effectiveness of the measures it has put in place.
The Digital Services Act mandates that major online platforms, categorized as Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs), such as Shein, must adequately assess and mitigate systemic risks. These include risks to minors and the dissemination of illegal content, regardless of whether these risks arise from the platform's internal systems or the design and functioning of its services.
The Commission has reiterated its commitment to monitoring the compliance of major platforms, including Shein, with their obligations under the Digital Services Act across the European Union. It emphasized its readiness to take necessary action when required.
This request marks the third instance in which the Commission has formally sought information from Shein.