EU Fines AliExpress Record €550 Million Over Illegal Goods

The European Commission imposed a €550 million ($629 million) fine on AliExpress, the largest penalty under the Digital Services Act (DSA), for failing to curb sales of illegal, unsafe, and counterfeit products. Source: DW, AP

Key Violations

• Inadequate staffing: Moderators were given just "tens of seconds" to review flagged products, leading to millions of illegal items remaining online for weeks. Source: Ars Technica, The Guardian
• Promotion of illegal goods: AliExpress's recommendation and advertising systems spread counterfeit and dangerous products instead of removing them. Source: Ars Technica
• Ineffective penalties: Traders caught selling illegal goods were not properly sanctioned and continued operating. Source: CNA

Company Response

AliExpress called the fine "disproportionate" and said it "does not adequately reflect our established framework." It is reviewing options, including an appeal. Source: DW, The Guardian

Context

Previous DSA fines include €200 million on Temu and €120 million on X. AliExpress must submit an action plan by October 20, 2026, or face further penalties. Source: AP, The Verge