EU fines AliExpress €550 million for failing to block counterfeit goods
The European Commission imposed a record €550 million ($629 million) fine on Alibaba’s AliExpress for violating the Digital Services Act by failing to prevent the sale of counterfeit, unsafe, and illegal products. Investigators found that prohibited items remained on the platform for weeks, and AliExpress’s recommendation systems promoted nearly 15 million illegal products. The company has until October 20, 2026, to submit a remediation plan or face further penalties. The fine is the largest under the DSA, signaling stricter EU oversight of major online marketplaces.
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China Defends AliExpress After EU Imposes Record 550 Million Euro Fine Over Counterfeits
China's Ministry of Commerce has strongly criticized the European Union after the European Commission fined AliExpress, the largest Chinese e-commerce platform in the bloc, 550 million euros (over $627 million) for failing to curb the sale of counterfeit goods under the Digital Services Act (DSA). Beijing expressed 'strong dissatisfaction and serious concern,' accusing the EU of erecting digital barriers and discriminating against Chinese companies. The EU stated that AliExpress failed to assess risks from its recommender and advertising systems that exacerbated the spread of illegal products, and did not properly enforce penalties against errant traders. This is the largest DSA fine to date and the second against a Chinese firm this year, following a 200 million euro fine on Temu in May. Chinese ultra-fast fashion retailer Shein is also under DSA investigation for potential breaches related to illegal products, addictive design, and algorithm transparency.
EU Fines AliExpress $630M For Failing To Curb Counterfeits
The European Commission has fined AliExpress 550 million euros (over $627 million) for failing to curb the sale of counterfeit goods on its platform, marking the largest penalty issued under the Digital Services Act (DSA) since it took effect in 2023. The Commission stated that AliExpress, the largest Chinese e-commerce platform in the EU with approximately 193 million users, breached its DSA obligations by not diligently assessing and mitigating risks related to counterfeits. Specific failures included inadequate detection systems that allowed illegal products to remain online for weeks, ineffective penalty policies for traders, and recommender systems that exacerbated the spread of illegal items. EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen emphasized that 'scale is not an excuse' for non-compliance. AliExpress disagreed with the decision, calling the fine 'disproportionate.' The company has until October 20 to propose remedies or face additional penalty payments. Previous DSA fines include X (120 million euros in 2025) and Temu (200 million euros in May 2026).
EU fines Chinese company AliExpress €550m over sale of illegal goods
The European Commission has fined Chinese online retail marketplace AliExpress €550 million ($628 million) for failing to meet risk-assessment obligations under the Digital Services Act (DSA). The EC found that AliExpress did not adequately assess staffing levels for reviewing potentially illegal listings, overstated the effectiveness of its detection and removal systems, and failed to evaluate how its recommendation and advertising tools contributed to the spread of illegal items. Investigators discovered that counterfeit clothing, unsafe toys, dangerous cosmetics, and other illegal products remained listed for weeks after being reported. The platform's brand-authorization scheme was understaffed and open to circumvention. AliExpress has until October 20, 2026, to submit a remediation plan. The EC cited the relative newness of the DSA as a mitigating factor in setting the fine. This follows a €200 million penalty imposed on Temu in May 2026 under the same regulation.
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EU fines Chinese company AliExpress €550m over sale of illegal goods
The European Commission has fined Chinese e-commerce platform AliExpress €550 million ($628 million) for failing to meet its obligations under the Digital Services Act (DSA) regarding the sale of counterfeit, unsafe, and illegal goods. The EC found that AliExpress did not adequately assess its staffing levels for reviewing potentially illegal listings, overstated the effectiveness of its detection and removal systems, and failed to evaluate how its recommendation and advertising tools contributed to the spread of illegal items. Investigators discovered that large volumes of illegal products, including counterfeit clothing, dangerous toys, and unsafe cosmetics, remained available for weeks after being reported. The company's brand-authorization scheme was found to be understaffed and open to circumvention. AliExpress has until October 20, 2026, to submit a remediation plan, with potential further fines for non-compliance. The investigation, which began in March 2024, also examined content moderation, complaint handling, and advertising transparency. This follows a €200 million fine on Temu in May 2026 for similar DSA violations.
European Commission fines AliExpress $629 million for failing to block counterfeit goods
The European Commission has fined Chinese online marketplace AliExpress $629 million for violating the European Union's Digital Services Act. The penalty stems from the platform's failure to adequately block the spread of counterfeit clothing and other illegal or harmful products. The fine, reported by Fortune on July 20, 2026, marks a significant regulatory action against the e-commerce giant, highlighting ongoing tensions between EU digital regulations and major online retailers. The article describes the fine as a 'failure by AliExpress' in the headline, emphasizing the EU's stance on enforcing compliance with consumer protection and product safety laws.
EU Imposes Record 550 Million Euro Fine on Aliexpress Over Illegal Products
The European Commission has fined Chinese online marketplace Aliexpress 550 million euros for failing to adequately combat the sale of counterfeit and dangerous products on its platform. The fine, the largest ever under the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA), stems from violations identified between March 2024 and summer 2025. Brussels accused Aliexpress of insufficient staffing for product checks, with inspectors having only 10-20 seconds per item, and of promoting nearly 15 million prohibited products to EU users via its recommendation systems. Aliexpress, owned by Alibaba Group, called the fine 'disproportionate' and said it is reviewing its options. The company has until October 20 to submit a plan of corrective measures or face further penalties. German MEP Andreas Schwab praised the decision as a victory for consumer protection and fair competition. Previous DSA fines include 120 million euros on X and 200 million euros on Temu.
EU Fines AliExpress 550 Million Euros Over Counterfeit Goods
The European Commission has imposed a 550 million euro fine on Chinese online marketplace AliExpress for failing to prevent the sale of counterfeit and dangerous products. The EU found that counterfeit clothing, unsafe toys, and hazardous cosmetics remained on the platform for weeks without removal. AliExpress, owned by the Alibaba Group, was also criticized for insufficient staffing to review potentially illegal products and for recommending or advertising illegal items before removal. EU Digital Commissioner Henna Virkkunen stated the behavior endangers European consumers and is unfair to law-abiding companies. The fine is below the possible maximum penalty. AliExpress has until October 20 to submit an action plan for improvement, and the EU may impose daily fines if cooperation is insufficient. The case highlights growing EU scrutiny of Asian online retailers like Temu and Shein, which have gained market share in Europe.
EU hits China’s Alibaba with €550M record fine over illegal products
The European Union has imposed a record fine of €550 million on Alibaba's AliExpress platform for failing to prevent the sale of illegal, counterfeit, and unsafe products. This is the largest penalty ever issued under the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA). The fine targets the Chinese e-commerce giant's marketplace, which the EU says did not adequately police listings for prohibited goods. The decision marks a significant escalation in EU enforcement against major tech platforms, signaling stricter oversight of online marketplaces. Alibaba has indicated it will review the decision and may appeal.
EU Fines AliExpress €550 Million for Selling Illegal Products Under Digital Services Act
The European Commission fined Chinese ecommerce giant AliExpress €550 million on Monday for breaching the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA) by failing to adequately assess and mitigate risks of illegal, unsafe, and counterfeit products on its platform. This is the largest penalty imposed under the DSA to date. The Commission found that AliExpress lacked sufficient safeguards, including inadequate staffing to review potentially illegal products and weak penalty policies against repeat-offending traders. AliExpress, which has approximately 193 million monthly users in the EU, disagreed with the findings and called the fine disproportionate, announcing it would appeal. The company has until October 20 to submit a compliance action plan. The fine represents less than 1% of parent company Alibaba's €122 billion annual revenue, well below the maximum possible 6% of global turnover.