BRUSSELS — The European Commission announced on Monday a record fine of €625 million against the Chinese e‑commerce platform AliExpress for not implementing mandatory safety measures required by the Digital Services Act. The penalty, the largest imposed under the Act to date, was levied for the retailer’s failure to remove or correct listings of dangerous goods and counterfeit items.
According to reporting circulating internationally, the decision follows a prolonged investigation into the platform’s compliance with EU safety and consumer protection standards. The Commission cited a series of incidents where users accessed unsafe toys and other hazardous products that the retailer had not adequately screened.
The fine represents the most severe sanction ever issued under the Act, which seeks to hold large online marketplaces accountable for the content they host. Other news platforms have noted that the European regulator is increasing enforcement activity as the law takes effect.
AliExpress has not yet responded to the Commission’s announcement. The company’s spokesperson previously said it was shocked by the decision, but no official statement has been released.
The ruling underscores the growing scrutiny of cross‑border e‑commerce operators by EU regulators. It also signals that similar penalties could be applied to other platforms that fail to meet the new digital service obligations.
Lawmakers and industry observers expect the fine to prompt a review of compliance procedures across the sector. Reporters around the world are monitoring how the decision will influence future enforcement actions under the Digital Services Act.
