EU hits AliExpress with record $629M fine over illegal products

Officials also found that many sellers of illegal goods remained active on the platform and that AliExpress’ mandatory brand authorization system was ineffective at preventing counterfeit products from being listed.

The investigation, launched in March 2024, concluded that some products sold on the platform failed to meet the EU’s environmental and consumer safety standards.

AliExpress pushes back

AliExpress described the penalty as “disproportionate,” saying it does not reflect the company’s compliance framework or the improvements it has made. The company said it is considering its legal options.

The EU said the size of the fine reflected the nature, duration and impact of the violations on European consumers.

AliExpress, owned by Alibaba, has around 193 million users in the EU, making the bloc its largest market. The company must now pay the fine and submit a compliance plan by October 20 or risk additional penalties.

The ruling follows other major DSA enforcement actions, including a $228.7 (€200 million) fine against Temu and a $137.20 (€120 million) penalty imposed on X, underscoring Brussels’ growing scrutiny of major online platforms