EU imposes record fine on online retailer AliExpress
The European Commission has imposed a record €550-million fine on AliExpress for failing to prevent the sale of illegal, unsafe and counterfeit products on its online marketplace. According to the Commission, the platform allowed items such as fake clothing, unsafe toys and dangerous cosmetics to remain available for weeks, violating its obligations under the EU’s Digital Services Act.
The penalty is the largest issued under the Digital Services Act to date. EU regulators said AliExpress did not do enough to protect consumers from illegal products sold through its platform, prompting the record sanction.
AliExpress, which is owned by Alibaba, said it disagrees with the decision and plans to challenge the fine through legal channels.