The Texas Attorney General’s office has filed a lawsuit against fast-fashion retailer Shein, accusing the company of selling products containing hazardous chemicals and misleading consumers about data privacy practices.
The complaint, filed by Attorney General Ken Paxton, alleges that Shein’s clothing and children’s products exceeded safety limits for substances such as lead, phthalates, and formaldehyde. Texas officials claim the company failed to adequately disclose these risks to consumers, violating the state’s Deceptive Trade Practices Act.
In addition to product safety concerns, the lawsuit targets Shein’s handling of customer data. The state argues that Shein’s privacy disclosures omit critical information about the potential for personal data to be accessed under Chinese law, a practice Texas says is material to consumers’ purchasing decisions.
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Texas is seeking civil penalties, injunctions to stop the alleged deceptive practices, and orders requiring clearer disclosure of product safety and data handling policies. Shein has stated it disagrees with the allegations and plans to contest the lawsuit.
This action comes amid broader scrutiny of Shein’s global operations, including investigations in Europe over consumer safety and platform compliance, and past U.S. federal inquiries into data privacy. Texas officials have characterized the lawsuit as part of a larger effort to protect consumers from unsafe products and opaque data practices linked to foreign entities.
Shein, which has rapidly grown into one of the world’s largest online fashion retailers, has faced criticism over product quality, labor practices, and marketing transparency in multiple jurisdictions. The Texas lawsuit marks one of the most significant state-level legal challenges to date.
