European Commission - Press release
Commission designates Shein as Very Large Online Platform under the
Digital Services Act
Brussels, 26 April 2024
Today, the Commission has formally designated Shein as a Very Large Online Platform (VLOP) under
the Digital Services Act (DSA).
Shein is a fashion online retailer with an average of more than 45 million monthly users in the
European Union. This user number, which Shein has communicated to the Commission, is above the
DSA threshold for designation as a VLOP.
Following today's designation as a VLOP, Shein will have to comply with the most stringent rules
under the DSA within four months of its notification (i.e. by the end of August 2024), such as the
obligation to adopt specific measures to empower and protect users online, including minors, and
duly assess and mitigate any systemic risks stemming from their services.
More specifically, these additional obligations include:
More diligent surveillance of illegal products:
Shein needs to diligently analyse the specific systemic risks with regard to the dissemination
of illegal content and products and from the design or functioning of its service and its related
systems. Risk assessment reports will have to be provided to the Commission 4 months after
the notification of the formal designation and thereafter one a year.
Shein must put in place mitigation measures to address risks, such as the listing and sale of
counterfeit goods, unsafe products, and items that infringe on intellectual property rights.
These measures can include adapting the terms of service, enhancing user interface design for
better reporting and detection of suspicious listings, improving moderation processes to swiftly
remove illegal items, and refining its algorithms to prevent the promotion and sale of
prohibited goods.
Shein must reinforce its internal processes, resources, testing, documentation, and supervision
of any of the activities linked to the detection of systemic risks.
Enhanced Consumer Protection Measures:
The yearly risk assessment reports by Shein must specifically evaluate any potential adverse
effects on consumer health and safety, with an emphasis on the physical and mental well-
being of underage users.
Shein is required to structure its platform, including user interfaces, recommendation
algorithms, and terms of service, to mitigate and prevent risks to consumer safety and well-
being. Measures must be implemented to protect consumers from purchasing unsafe or illegal
goods, with particular focus on preventing the sale and distribution of products that could be
harmful to minors. This includes incorporating robust age assurance systems to restrict the
purchase of age-restricted items.
More transparency and accountability:
Shein needs to ensure that its risk assessments and compliance with all the DSA obligations
are externally and independently audited every year.
Shein needs to publish repositories of all the ads served on its interface.
Shein will have to give access to publicly available data to researchers, including to vetted
researchers designated by Digital Services Coordinators.
Shein needs to comply with transparency requirements, including the publication of
transparency reports on content moderation decisions and risk management every six months,
in addition to reports on the systemic risks and audit results once a year.
Shein has to appoint a compliance function and be subject to an external independent audit