Europe fines AliExpress 550 million euros

The European Union imposed a fine of 550 million euros ($630 million) yesterday on the AliExpress platform for allowing the sale of illegal products, including unsafe toys and cosmetics. The EU stated that AliExpress had not done enough to prevent the sale of counterfeit goods, and that a significant portion of these illegal products remained available online for several weeks even after the platform identified them as being sold.

The EU concluded during an investigation launched in March 2024 that some products sold on the platform did not comply with the strict environmental and safety standards it imposes. In a statement, EU Commissioner for Technology Henna Virkkunen said, “Risks must be identified and addressed systematically to ensure that consumers can shop online safely. We expect AliExpress to adhere to this standard and call on it to take the necessary measures.”