The EU on Tuesday, February 17, opened an investigation into the online retail giant Shein over the sale of childlike sex dolls and what it called the platform’s “addictive design.” Shein came under greater scrutiny in November after French authorities condemned the giant for featuring sex dolls resembling children.
The probe is the European Commission’s first into Shein under the Digital Services Act (DSA), the EU’s mammoth law that aims to counter the spread of illegal content and goods online. The European Commission said it was investigating the sale of illegal products “including child sexual abuse material” and would look at the “lack of transparency” of Shein’s recommender systems.
Shein, founded in China in 2012 but now based in Singapore, said it would continue to cooperate with the commission. “We share the commission’s objective of ensuring a safe and trusted online environment and will continue to engage constructively on this procedure,” Shein said in a statement. Following the uproar in France, Shein said it immediately removed the products and banned sex dolls from its site globally, regardless of appearance.
It’s possible in Denmark too. However they usually only get to the conclusion that they need help after they have been caught in possession of illegal materials.
The psychologists working on it have difficulty getting funding for research. The questions are if it really is a disease on it’s own and if it’s treatable. There’s not a lot of valid data to work with. This made the news last year or so.
I’m no psychologist but my impression is that it’s more like a symptom of a different trauma, which might make more sense to throw money at. It would be interesting to hear from the psychologists who work in prisons.
Anyway, the foundation Save The Children has hotlines for young people who are concerned with their sexuality in one way or the other.