The European Commission fined AliExpress €550 million under the Digital Services Act.
Why it matters: The case is a major test of the EU's new platform rules and its willingness to punish marketplace governance failures. It also raises pressure on large online sellers to police illegal, unsafe and counterfeit goods.
- The European Commission announced the fine on July 20, 2026.
- Brussels said AliExpress failed to properly assess and mitigate risks tied to illegal, unsafe and counterfeit products.
- The Commission ordered AliExpress to take corrective action and warned of periodic penalty payments if it does not comply.
- AP reported the fine as $629 million and said it is the biggest ever imposed under the DSA to date.
The European Commission said AliExpress breached the EU Digital Services Act by failing to properly assess and mitigate risks on its marketplace tied to illegal, unsafe and counterfeit products.
Officials said the platform failed in multiple ways to assess the spread of illegal products and did not take effective measures to reduce that risk. The Commission also ordered the company to take corrective action.
Henna Virkkunen, the Commission's Executive-Vice President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, said: "The spread of counterfeit clothing, unsafe toys, dangerous cosmetics and other illegal and harmful products is not an unavoidable cost of shopping online - it is a failure by AliExpress to comply with its obligations under the Digital Services Act."
She added: "Scale is not an excuse; risks must be identified and addressed systematically to ensure consumers can safely shop online."
AP reported the fine as $629 million and said it is the biggest ever imposed under the DSA to date. Euronews reported that formal proceedings began in 2024 and that AliExpress has until October 20, 2026, to submit an action plan to the Commission.
AliExpress told Euronews: "We disagree with today's decision and the disproportionate fine, which does not adequately reflect our established framework and the significant, proactive enhancements we have made."
By the numbers
- €550 million - The European Commission's fine against AliExpress.
- October 20, 2026 - Deadline Euronews reported for AliExpress to submit an action plan.
What's next: Euronews reported that AliExpress must submit an action plan to the Commission by October 20, 2026.