The European Union has imposed a record fine of 550 million euros on the Chinese e-commerce platform AliExpress for failing to adequately combat the sale of counterfeit, dangerous and illegal goods. The penalty, based on the Digital Services Act (DSA), marks one of the most severe enforcement actions taken against a major tech player.
After a months-long investigation, EU regulators concluded that AliExpress, owned by the Alibaba Group, did not implement effective measures to prevent the distribution of prohibited items. Among the problematic products identified were counterfeit clothing, harmful cosmetics and unsafe toys that remained on the platform despite warnings.
The fine is the largest ever imposed under the DSA, highlighting Brussels’ determination to hold digital platforms accountable for the safety of goods sold through their marketplaces. According to Reuters, which reported on the decision, the European Commission found that AliExpress’s moderation systems were insufficient and that the platform even ran advertisements for such products.
Scale of the problem
AliExpress has approximately 193 million active users in Europe, making it one of the continent’s largest online shopping destinations. The EU’s investigation revealed repeated failures to remove listings for fake designer items and hazardous articles, despite multiple requests from authorities and consumer protection bodies.
The Digital Services Act, which came into force in 2024, imposes strict obligations on very large online platforms to proactively police illegal content and goods. Companies found in breach face fines of up to 6% of their global annual turnover. The 550 million euro penalty, while high, is still below that ceiling for Alibaba, which reported revenues exceeding $130 billion in the last fiscal year.
AliExpress responds
In an official statement, AliExpress rejected the EU’s findings. „We disagree with today’s decision and the disproportionate fine, which does not adequately reflect our system and the significant, proactive improvements we have made,” the company said.
The Chinese firm argued that it has invested heavily in automated tools and human reviews to detect prohibited products. However, EU regulators countered that those efforts were not enough and that the platform continued to generate revenue from illegal sales. The case could set a precedent for future enforcement actions against other marketplaces such as Amazon, eBay and Temu, which are also under scrutiny for similar issues.
Observers note that the penalty may also escalate trade tensions between Brussels and Beijing. The European Commission has increasingly used the DSA to regulate foreign-owned platforms, while China has raised objections to what it calls discriminatory treatment of its companies.
AliExpress now has the right to appeal the decision before the Court of Justice of the European Union. The company has not yet announced whether it will pursue that option.
Źródło: WNP.PL, Fot. The_Pixel / Shutterstock
