Some profiles on the platform use links in clothing ads to redirect users to content in adult content sites, such as OnlyFans. Sarah El Hairy, responsible for the protection of minors in France, called for the implementation of an age verification system, warning that “where there are children and adolescents, there are predators”.
The second-hand clothing sales platform Vinted is the subject of an investigation in France, following reports that some accounts are using their ads to direct users to pornographic content.
The situation was revealed by several French media outlets, including the who identified seemingly harmless ads of clothes used to redirect usersthrough links included in the descriptions, for adult content sites, like the OnlyFans. Some publications included WhatsApp and Telegram contacts, encouraging private conversations outside the platform.
Although these practices are against Vinted’s rules, Not Sunday, Sarah The Hairy, responsible for the French child protection agency, announced that it had filed a formal complaint with Arcom, the French media and internet regulator.
To Sarah El Hairya platforma is fully responsible for the existence of these advertisements.
“Vinted makes money from its ads, so them a direct responsibility”said the person responsible in an interview on the “France 3” channel.
“Where there are children and teenagers, there are predators and they are using the sale of very common objects to direct people to pornographic content,” he added.
The person responsible also defended that Vinted, which has 23 million users in Franceis required to implement an age verification system, similar to that required in the country and in other European states for adult content platforms.
Vinted guarantees “zero tolerance”
Confronted by , Vinted denied any permissiveness and guaranteed that it does not allow promotion of sexual services. The company claimed to have “zero tolerance” regarding contacts or messages of a sexual nature e these have automatic detection systems to identify suspicious behavior.
Furthermore, it reinforced the call for any content considered inappropriate to be be reported.
Founded in Lithuania in 2008, Vinted has become one of the biggest European references in the buying and selling of second-hand clothing.
