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EU Probes AliExpress For Alleged Dissemination Of Illegal Content

By Nithya Bose in Business News, posted March 16, 2024

The European Commission has opened a formal inquiry into Chinese tech giant Alibaba-owned AliExpress over the spread of illegal content.

The investigation by the European Union's executive body is prompted by the newly effective Digital Services Act (DSA).

It’s a comprehensive regulation designed to regulate major tech companies on various fronts, including anti-competitive practices and spreading misinformation.

The commission said the probe determines if AliExpress violated the DSA in “areas linked to the management and mitigation of risks, to content moderation and the internal complaint handling mechanism, to the transparency of advertising and recommender systems, to the traceability of traders and to data access for researchers.”

Particular attention is being given to whether the e-commerce website has failed to enforce its user agreements.

It forbids the sale of certain hazardous items, like counterfeit medications.

Additionally, the probe will explore potential DSA breaches concerning the accessibility of pornographic materials to minors on the platform.

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The investigation also covers concerns like product recommendation practices and adherence to regulations requiring a searchable database of advertisements.

An AliExpress spokesperson said the firm has “been working with, and will continue to work with, the relevant authorities on making sure we comply with applicable standards and will continue to ensure that we will be able to meet the requirements of the DSA.”

They added: “AliExpress is committed to creating a safe and compliant marketplace for all consumers.”

This inquiry marks the third under the DSA, following previous investigations into TikTok and the social media X.

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