Vinted faces child trafficking accusations; no evidence found yet

The online marketplace Vinted is currently under scrutiny following widespread accusations that it may be used to conceal child trafficking. Reports, particularly amplified on platforms like TikTok, Reddit, and Instagram, have led to numerous user complaints and official investigations in France and Germany. However, authorities have yet to uncover any evidence substantiating an organized human trafficking ring operating on the platform.

The controversy was sparked by videos from French and German influencers highlighting seemingly ordinary used item listings, often for plush toys or figurines, priced extraordinarily high. The descriptions for these items reportedly included details such as age, weight, or hair color, which users interpreted as coded language to describe children.

French prosecutors in Nanterre have initiated a preliminary investigation, involving a specialized police unit for the protection of minors. Sarah El Haïry, France's High Commissioner for Children, has also reported the case to national systems for flagging illegal online content and to digital media regulators. El Haïry stressed the need for extreme caution in protecting children, noting that an investigation does not automatically imply guilt.

German investigators echo similar findings. The Hessian State Criminal Police Office (HLKA) reported reviewing numerous ads following an increase in complaints but found no reliable evidence linking them to child or human trafficking. They suggest many reported ads are either fake or intentionally created to capitalize on viral social media stories. A French newspaper, 20 Minutes, reported an instance where a seller, after discussing a remote control, shifted to a coded messaging app and offered a seven-year-old girl, providing a photo, which was immediately reported to the police. Subsequent investigation revealed the account belonged to a 17-year-old student, not a criminal organization.

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There is never too much caution: I prefer a strict principle of precaution than a single abandoned child facing their tormentors. Faced with a suspected risk of human trafficking on Vinted, our responsibility is to act, not to look away.