Childlike sex dolls? Amazon called by Swedish government over online sales

Stockholm: The Swedish government announced on Wednesday that it has summoned Amazon, along with other e-commerce platforms, to a meeting addressing the sale of childlike sex dolls on their sites. The meeting, scheduled for November 28, will include children’s rights organisations and relevant authorities to discuss ways to tackle the issue.

Child rights group ChildX filed a police report against Amazon and two other platforms earlier this week, arguing that the sale of such products could normalise sexual abuse of children and increase demand for exploitative material.

Sweden’s Minister for Social Services, Camilla Waltersson Gronvall, said, “We must collectively explore the possibilities to stop the existence of these dolls.”

Amazon confirmed it will attend the meeting and stated that the flagged products have been removed. “We have strict policies and guidelines in the segment of adult products and we have always strictly prohibited child pornography,” said an Amazon spokesperson.

ChildX secretary general Ida Ostensson stressed that Amazon must take greater responsibility, noting that similar dolls were criticised in 2018 but returned to sale three days later.

Under Swedish law, distribution and possession of child sex images is illegal, as is possession of childlike sex dolls. While the legality of selling such dolls has not been tested in court, ChildX maintains the practice should also be illegal.

The issue follows similar actions internationally, including the Chinese e-commerce platform Shein banning such dolls after France threatened legal action against the retailer.

The Swedish authorities’ intervention highlights growing concerns about online marketplaces facilitating access to products that could be used for child exploitation. ChildX, a prominent children’s rights organisation, has repeatedly called for stricter oversight of global e-commerce platforms.

By convening a joint meeting of government officials, e-commerce companies, and child protection bodies, Sweden aims to establish clear measures to prevent the sale of products that may normalise sexual abuse of minors. Amazon has indicated compliance with the authorities’ request, reflecting increasing pressure on tech companies to police content more rigorously.

The case also underscores international debates over regulation of adult products that mimic children. While some countries have banned the sale of such dolls outright, legal ambiguities remain, particularly regarding online marketplaces operating across borders.
(With AFP inputs)