European Commission Accuses AliExpress of Violating the Digital Services Act

The Chinese e-commerce giant could face a fine of up to 6% of its global annual turnover.

On June 18, 2025, the European Commission issued its preliminary findings in an investigation into AliExpress’s compliance with the Digital Services Act (DSA). The platform, classified as a Very Large Online Platform (VLOP) under EU regulations, is accused of failing to adequately manage the risks associated with illegal products sold on its marketplace.

According to the Commission, AliExpress lacks sufficient mechanisms for identifying and moderating illegal content, particularly counterfeit goods and items that violate EU safety standards. The company allegedly relies on ineffective fraud detection tools and is too lenient with repeat offenders who list banned or dangerous products.

AliExpress — the global subsidiary of China’s Alibaba Group — has been given the opportunity to present its defense. Should the Commission conclude that the company has breached Articles 34 and 35 of the DSA, it could face a fine of up to 6% of its global annual revenue.

In addition to financial penalties, a formal violation would require the platform to submit a corrective action plan within a specified timeframe to bring its operations into compliance with EU law.