Sweden Tackles Online Sale of Childlike Sex Dolls
BERLIN – On Friday, the Swedish government announced its commitment to address the online sale of childlike sex dolls after previous incidents were reported in the country.
“As a mother, I believe I represent the feelings of all parents when I say that seeing images of these dolls is incredibly distressing,” stated Sweden’s Minister of Social Welfare, Camilla Waltersson Gronvall, in a conversation with the Associated Press.
She emphasized the government’s determination to ensure “that these products can no longer be bought or sold anywhere.” Her comments followed a government meeting prompted by several notable cases involving e-commerce sites selling such dolls, which included participation from child protection organizations, online vendors, and government agencies.
Waltersson Gronvall also mentioned that an online platform had explained the measures it was implementing to prevent the sale of these products.
When asked if the ministry felt these measures were adequate, she replied, “We have been clear about our commitment to adhere strictly to these measures and will not hesitate to take further steps, possibly involving new legislation, if necessary.”
Additionally, the government is formulating strategies to shield children from various forms of violence, focusing on preventing sexual and online abuse.
The controversial sale of these dolls gained public attention earlier this month when the child protection group ChildX lodged a police report against Amazon and other e-commerce platforms for selling sex dolls resembling children. “The products, which are roughly one meter tall, are often styled in school uniforms and marketed sexually,” the organization stated. “Swedish law prohibits materials that depict children in a sexual context. Thus, selling realistic child sex dolls may violate criminal provisions regarding child sexual exploitation.”
ChildX’s Executive Director, Ida Ostenson, also noted in a call with the Associated Press that public complaints and support against Amazon and similar platforms prompted the removal of these listings.
“We are addressing this because these products are aimed at children in a sexual manner,” Ostenson explained. “Their marketing contributes to a culture that normalizes child sexual abuse, which is unacceptable. Children should never be exploited in such a way.”
In an email response, Amazon indicated it had no new information to share beyond what had already been communicated, mentioning its participation in the government meeting and that it had removed flagged products from its listings.
On November 12, Le Monde reported that an Amazon spokesperson reiterated the company’s commitment to strict policies regarding adult products, asserting that child pornography is categorically prohibited.
Earlier in November, the French government announced plans to suspend access to the online marketplace of fashion giant Shein after authorities discovered illegal weapons and childlike sex dolls on the platform until the content could be confirmed as compliant with French law.
