AliExpress targeted in EU probe over possibly illegal online products

BRUSSELS: Alibaba’s AliExpress could face a hefty fine after the European Commission on Thursday launched an investigation into dissemination of potentially illegal and pornographic materials, the third such probe after social media platform X and TikTok.

Under the EU’s newly adopted Digital Services Act (DSA), AliExpress has been designated as a very large online platform (VLOP) and together with 15 other tech companies has to do more to tackle illegal and harmful content on its platform.

The EU executive had sent a request for information to AliExpress in November.

Commission officials told reporters they were concerned about the potential dissemination of illegal products such as fake medicines, non-compliant food, and ineffective dietary supplements on AliExpress, and the lack of effective measures to tackle these.

They are also looking into possible hidden links where non-compliant products can be sold in a way that is not transparent to users and the role of influencers in this matter.

“We have not found yet at this stage that AliExpress is not compliant. We are simply suspecting we have elements that they are not compliant with. This is not a finding of a breach,” one of the officials said.

AliExpress, which risks a fine of up to 6% of its global annual turnover, said it respected all applicable rules and regulations in the markets where it operates.