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Online retailers including Shein, Temu, AliExpress and Wish are now under investigation in France for the charge of permitting youngsters to view explicit material on their websites, the Paris prosecutor declared on Tuesday.

The country's consumer protection agency had brought to light the four firms to the prosecution service on this past Sunday after voicing worries about the marketing of youth-resembling sex dolls on Shein's platform during the weekend.

The French judicial officials clarified that the online services are being looked into over violent, adult or unacceptable messages that can be viewed by minors.

One of the platforms stated that it takes the issue with utmost gravity. The other retailers have also been reached out to for their perspective.

Expanded Inquiries and Company Statements

Two of the retailers are furthermore under investigation over the distribution of content involving children that are of a adult type, the authorities revealed.

The cases have been passed to the French minor protection office, the prosecution service added. This office is an section of the law enforcement that oversees the safeguarding of minors.

The company asserted that the products in concern violated its rules and were deleted once it learned of them.

"Merchants discovered to violate or seeking to circumvent these policies will be disciplined in line with our regulations," the company said in a statement.

On Monday, the company said it had outlawed the sale of every sex dolls on its platform internationally. The headquartered in Singapore firm also said that it would permanently block all merchant IDs related to the illegal sale of the childlike items and enforce tighter measures on its platform.

Regulatory Body Observations and Wider Background

The national consumer agency, the consumer protection directorate, had said that the sex dolls' description and categorisation left "minimal uncertainty as to the exploitative character" of the merchandise.

The scrutiny of the retailer comes as the company, which was established in the People's Republic of China, prepares for the launch on Wednesday of its maiden permanent physical shop in the French Republic.

Activists have been seen assembled in outside the Paris retail outlet where the company is planned to establish the outlet.

The retailer aims to launch outlets in other France's department stores in cities like Dijon, Reims and Angers.