EU imposes record €550 million fine on AliExpress over illegal products
The European Commission has fined the Chinese e‑commerce platform AliExpress €550 million, the highest penalty ever imposed under the Digital Services Act. The sanction charges the marketplace with failing to adequately detect and remove illegal, unsafe and counterfeit goods – including fake clothing, dangerous toys and hazardous cosmetics – which remained available to consumers for weeks after being flagged.
Brussels noted systemic shortcomings such as insufficient moderation staff, overly optimistic detection algorithms and lax enforcement against repeat‑offending sellers. AliExpress has been given until 20 October 2026 to submit a corrective action plan, with further penalties possible if it does not comply.
China’s Ministry of Commerce condemned the fine as discriminatory, vowed “firm measures” to defend Chinese firms and pledged legal support for AliExpress in appealing the decision. The ruling follows earlier EU fines on Temu (€200 million) and X (€120 million) for similar violations.