China shuts down factories producing 'childlike' sex dolls sold on sites like AliExpress & Taobao

Chinese authorities have shut down several factories after uncovering the sale of sex dolls with “childlike pornography characteristics”, following increasing domestic and international pressure to clamp down on the illicit trade.

Law enforcement agencies from Guangdong province have carried out inspections at multiple sites and ordered manufacturers to halt production immediately, according to China Daily.

These include several factories in Dongguan and Huizhou in Guangdong.

A joint task force was formed, and along with public security authorities, raided one factory to seize the products.

Dolls marketed with coded language

An investigative report by Chinese state-owned news outlet The Paper, found that major online shopping sites and social media platforms were producing highly customisable sex dolls with child-like features and characteristics.

The dolls were often marketed in coded language to evade platform moderation.

Silicone figures with childlike faces and proportions can also be found on major Chinese e-commerce platforms such as Taobao, JD.com, Pinduoduo, Douyin and Xiaohongshu, despite being labelled as “anime dolls”.

A staff member from one manufacturer confirmed that the company produces dolls as small as 40cm with explicitly childlike traits, with optional heating and suction features, and even a model designed to appear “pregnant”, reported Shanghai Daily.

One of the factories also shipped the dolls as “fitness equipment” to avoid scrutiny.

Meanwhile, a factory in Dongguan admitted to producing similar TPE and silicone models that were dispatched without any identifying labels to evade detection.

Officials said they were attaching “great importance” to the issue, and targeted inspections would be carried out to "strengthen oversight", according to China Daily.

Sale of sex dolls on other e-commerce sites

Last month, global retailer Shein, originally founded in China but now headquartered in Singapore, announced a worldwide ban on the sale of all sex dolls following a public outcry after a France consumer watchdog spotted listings that featured dolls with child-like characteristics.

The company said it had strengthened its keyword blacklist to prevent sellers circumventing restrictions.

AliExpress, according to a Reuters report in November, has also banned a China-based vendor of childlike sex dolls after Reuters examined whether the listings were in violation of EU and U.S. regulations.

Top images via AliExpress