Activists Target Amazon Over Childlike Sex Doll Listings in Australia and New Zealand
Advocacy group Collective Shout identified more than 100 listings for childlike sex dolls on Amazon this year, prompting online petitions and renewed scrutiny over illicit imports across Australasia. Possession, advertising, importation, and sale of childlike sex dolls remain illegal in Australia, carrying penalties of up to 15 years in imprisonment, according to 1News.
Between 2024 and 2026, Australian Border Force officers seized childlike sex dolls, and Customs in New Zealand intercepted four. Australian Border Force officers seized 48 childlike sex dolls between 2024 and 2025, followed by another 46 seizures between 2025 and 2026. In New Zealand, Customs intercepted four similar items between 2018 and 2025, as reported by 1News.
Border Interceptions Reveal Links to Criminal Intent
Australian Federal Police Commander Jo Cameron stated that the items are not harmless objects and can contribute to the real-life exploitation of victims. Dolls may desensitize users from the physical, emotional, and psychological harm inflicted on real children, Commander Cameron told AAP.
Court records illustrate the severe real-world dangers associated with these imports. In February, Western Australian courts sentenced Jason William Forbes to more than seven years in prison following a police raid over the importation of a childlike doll. Officers uncovered elaborate kidnapping preparations, including a list of kindergartens, blacked-out car windows, a hidden soundproof room, and a physical mind map of his plans, according to case details reported by The Senior and Yahoo News Australia.
He was so close to actually kidnapping a child, and it was only flagged with police when they intercepted a second child sexual abuse doll that he tried to import,
Collective Shout campaign manager Caitlin Roper told AAP. What these dolls do is they normalise and legitimise children as appropriate objects of adult male sexual desire.
Third-Party Sellers Exploit Platform Loopholes
Collective Shout found more than 100 listings for childlike sex dolls on Amazon during 2026. Many items were marketed to users in Australia through the platform’s United States domain, although the specific listings did not offer direct shipping to Australia, Ms. Roper noted in reports covered by Yahoo News Australia.
Campaign organizers allege that third-party merchants bypass platform rules by mislabeling the products. Sellers frequently advertise the items as life-size action figures or adult dolls rather than prohibited products. In other instances, merchants post images of childlike dolls with pigtails and crop out the faces once moderators flag the listings, according to statements given to AAP.
Petition Prompts Removal of Flagged Listings
In response to the online marketplace listings, Collective Shout launched a digital petition that has gathered more than 5,000 signatures. Ms. Roper stated that Amazon removed at least 13 listings after the petition went live, noting that some prohibited items had remained active on the marketplace for up to eight months.
Activists argue that removal alone is insufficient because deleted listings are frequently replaced by new ones from similar accounts. Campaigners are pressing Amazon to permanently ban known merchants and deploy automated detection mechanisms to prevent future listings. Policies are meaningless if they’re not enforced,
Ms. Roper told AAP.
An Amazon spokesperson responded that the company continues to invest in detection tools and dedicated teams to monitor its store, confirming that third-party accounts violating company policies and guidelines are removed.
Frequently Asked Questions About Childlike Sex Doll Enforcement
What are the legal penalties for possessing childlike sex dolls in Australia?
Possession, importation, advertising, or sale of childlike sex dolls is illegal in Australia. Convictions for possession carry maximum sentences of up to 15 years in prison.
How many illegal dolls have border authorities intercepted?
Australian Border Force officers seized 48 childlike sex dolls between 2024 and 2025, and another 46 dolls between 2025 and 2026. In New Zealand, Customs intercepted four dolls between 2018 and 2025.
What specific methods do merchants use to evade marketplace detection?
According to campaign group Collective Shout, third-party sellers list prohibited items as adult dolls or life-size action figures, or digitally alter product photographs by cropping out childlike facial features when flagged by moderators.
Where can individuals seek support for sexual abuse or related distress?
Support services include Kids Helpline at 1800 55 1800 for people aged 5 to 25, and the National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service at 1800 211 028.
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