France investigating Vinted over alleged links to pornographic content

Second-hand clothing platform Vinted is under investigation in France after it emerged that some user accounts were directing visitors to it Pornographic content.

French Children’s Rights Commissioner Sarah Haeri said she had asked ARCOM to examine the allegations that were first reported. In the French media.

Vinted, which has 23 million users in France, has no age verification procedure – meaning children and teenagers could have been exposed to pornography without having to show proof they are over 18.

The Lithuania-based company said in a statement that it has a “zero-tolerance policy regarding unwanted communications of a sexual nature or the promotion of sexual services.”

“All inappropriate and illegal content is removed, and when necessary we take action against users, including permanently banning them from our website,” she said.

She added that Vented is taking the situation “very seriously.”

The reports first emerged after it emerged that some sellers offering photos of swimsuits or lingerie were luring viewers to their profiles on adult platforms like OnlyFans.

Al-Hairi said: “The perpetrators used the sale of ordinary clothes to direct people to pornographic sites.”

France recently issued warnings to other global e-commerce platforms, including Shein – which is headquartered in Singapore – after products including childish sex dolls appeared on their marketing listings.

French officials say the case against Shein forms part of a broader investigation into other major e-commerce platforms accused of allowing illicit products to be sold online.

Prosecutors in Paris are investigating whether Shein, AliExpress, Temu and Wish violated laws related to violent, pornographic or “offensive” content accessible by minors.

Shein and AliExpress are also being investigated specifically for the alleged dissemination of child pornography. The cases have been referred to the Paris Office for Minors, which deals with child protection offences.

Shein has already banned the sale of all sex dolls on its platform worldwide and says it is permanently banning seller accounts associated with the items.

France’s consumer watchdog, the Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Anti-Fraud, said the description of the dolls left “little doubt as to their child pornography nature”.