EU hits China’s Alibaba with €550M record fine over illegal products
The European Commission has fined AliExpress €550 million for failing to prevent the sale of illegal and harmful products on its platform. This action, taken under the Digital Services Act, represents a major enforcement effort against large online marketplaces.
Why it matters
Signals the EU's aggressive regulatory stance on digital platform accountability and consumer safety regarding cross-border e-commerce.
“There were a lot of counterfeit products, unsafe toys and dangerous cosmetics” on AliExpress, Europe’s tech chief says.
Copy Link Copied Share via email Share on X Share on WhatsApp Share on LinkedIn Free article usually reserved for subscribers Traffic passes in front of the Alibaba Center complex in Shenzhen's Nanshan district in China on May 28, 2026. | Cheng Xin/Getty Images July 20, 2026 12:00 pm CET By Mathieu Pollet BRUSSELS — The European Commission slapped Chinese e-commerce giant AliExpress with a record €550 million fine on Monday for failing to stop the sale of illegal and harmful products on its platform.
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