Vinted Under Scrutiny in France for Alleged Links to Porn

Mon Nov 17 2025 23:02:29 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Vinted Under Scrutiny in France for Alleged Links to Porn

The French government is investigating the second-hand clothing platform Vinted due to allegations of user accounts directing individuals to pornographic content, raising concerns about child safety.

Vinted, a popular second-hand clothing platform with 23 million users in France, is under investigation after reports surfaced that certain user accounts are directing visitors to pornographic sites. The inquiry was prompted by concerns from France's Children's Rights Commissioner, who noted the absence of age-verification procedures on the platform, allowing minors access to inappropriate content. The company has stated its commitment to removing illegal content and taking action against violators. This case is part of a broader scrutiny of global e-commerce sites for similar concerns regarding child protection.

The second-hand clothing platform Vinted is under investigation in France after some user accounts were found directing visitors to pornographic content.

France's Children's Rights Commissioner Sarah El-Haïry has asked watchdog Arcom to examine the allegations first reported in French media.

Vinted, which has 23 million users in France, has no age-verification procedure, which means children and teenagers could have been exposed to pornographic material without having to show proof they were over 18.

In a statement, the Lithuania-based company emphasized its zero-tolerance policy regarding unsolicited communications of a sexual nature or the promotion of sexual services.

All inappropriate and illegal content is removed, and where necessary we take measures against users, including blocking them definitively from our site, it was cited as saying by the AFP news agency.

Vinted is taking the situation very seriously, the company added.

Reports first surfaced after some sellers showing photographs of swimwear or lingerie were found to be luring viewers to their personal pages on adult platforms such as OnlyFans. Predators have been using the sale of ordinary items of clothing to direct people to porn sites, El-Haïry stated.

France has recently issued warnings to other global e-commerce platforms, including Shein, headquartered in Singapore, after products featuring childlike sex dolls appeared in their marketing listings.

The French consumer watchdog has stated that the descriptions of these dolls left little doubt as to their child-pornography nature, contributing to a wider investigation into other major e-commerce platforms alleged to have allowed illicit products to be sold online.

Paris prosecutors are examining whether platforms like Shein and AliExpress have breached laws relating to violent, pornographic, or "undignified" content accessible to minors, with specific attention given to the alleged dissemination of child-related pornographic material.

Shein has already banned the sale of all sex dolls on its platform worldwide and is permanently blocking seller accounts linked to the items.