The European Commission fined Alibaba’s AliExpress a record €550 million ($629 million) for breaching the Digital Services Act. This penalty represents the largest fine issued to date under the European Union’s content moderation rules. Regulators imposed the sanction after the platform failed to block the sale of counterfeit goods, unsafe toys, and dangerous cosmetics.
An investigation launched in 2024 found that AliExpress operated an understaffed review system and failed to properly assess platform risks. Regulators concluded that the company’s recommendation and advertising systems amplified the reach of illegal products. The probe also revealed that AliExpress did not take sufficient action against vendors who repeatedly violated safety policies.
AliExpress described the fine as disproportionate and is currently considering an appeal. The company must submit a remediation plan to regulators by October 20 detailing how it will address the breaches.