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EU Finds AliExpress in Breach of Digital Services Act, Makes Commitments Binding

The company must overhaul its risk assessments with a tighter moderation framework after preliminary findings exposed its liability to fines reaching 6% of global turnover

AliExpress logo is seen in this illustration taken February 11, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
The EU opened an investigation in March 2024 into AliExpress, owned by Alibaba, over suspected breaches of rules aimed at countering the spread of illegal goods and content online
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Overview

  • The European Commission’s June findings determined AliExpress failed to assess and mitigate risks tied to the sale of illegal goods, citing systemic moderation failures under the Digital Services Act.
  • Regulators flagged that AliExpress did not enforce penalties against traders repeatedly posting illegal items and underestimated the danger of hidden links directing users to unlawful products.
  • Legally binding commitments require the platform to improve detection of hidden links and tighten verification processes for influencers, food supplements and medical products.
  • AliExpress will implement a new internal monitoring framework overseen by an independent trustee and must enhance transparency in its advertising and recommendation systems.
  • Failure to meet these obligations could expose AliExpress to fines of up to 6% of its global turnover under the EU’s Digital Services Act.