AliExpress fined record €550m by EU for failing to stop sale of illegal and fake goods
The European Commission has fined AliExpress a record €550 million for failing to prevent the sale of illegal and harmful goods on its platform. This penalty is the largest issued under the EU's Digital Services Act to date.
Why it matters
This enforcement action signals a stricter regulatory environment for global e-commerce platforms operating within the European Union.
AliExpress AliExpress is the largest online retail operator in the EU with 193 million users. Photograph: Sheldon Cooper/SOPA Images/Shutterstock AliExpress AliExpress is the largest online retail operator in the EU with 193 million users. Photograph: Sheldon Cooper/SOPA Images/Shutterstock Retail industry AliExpress fined record €550m by EU for failing to stop sale of illegal and fake goods Chinese retail platform handed penalty over listings for items such as counterfeit products and unsafe toys
Prefer the Guardian on Google AliExpress, the Chinese online retail platform, has been fined a record €550m (£470m) by the EU over its failure to stop illegal goods including harmful clothing, cosmetics and kitchen gadgets being sold through its site.
The European Commission fine is the biggest yet exacted by the bloc under the Digital Services Act (DSA), legislation that came into force in 2024, to protect consumers from illegal goods, deceptive or addictive marketing techniques.
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