On February 14th, the European Commission sought additional information from the online fashion retailer Shein in accordance with the Digital Services Act.

This request was made just a day after the Commission initiated a consumer protection investigation into the company and released a set of measures aimed at tackling compliance issues associated with Chinese online marketplaces.

The inquiry under the DSA aims to gather information regarding risks tied to illegal content and products on Shein's platform, the transparency of its recommendation systems, data accessibility for qualified researchers, and the safeguards in place for consumer rights, public health, and user well-being.

Founded in China and now based in Singapore, Shein has until February 27th to provide its response.

This inquiry follows an earlier request sent last June that pertained to the company's adherence to requirements concerning the notice and action mechanism for illegal products, dark patterns, minor protection, and trader traceability.

A spokesperson for Shein mentioned that the company is diligently working to fulfill the request and reaffirmed its dedication to providing safe online shopping experiences for EU consumers.

The Commission will review Shein's response to establish the next steps, while ongoing DSA investigations are also focusing on other significant online platforms such as Meta, TikTok, and X.