EU Commission Probes AliExpress for DSA Compliance
The European Commission has initiated formal proceedings against AliExpress to investigate potential breaches of the Digital Services Act (DSA). This action stems from concerns regarding the platform’s management of systemic risks, content moderation, compliance with consumer protection laws, and transparency in advertising and trader traceability. Preliminary investigations, including the evaluation of AliExpress’s risk assessment report and transparency documentation, have highlighted issues such as inadequate enforcement of terms of service, ineffective illegal content controls, and insufficient measures against manipulative practices on the platform.
Key areas of investigation include AliExpress’s adherence to DSA mandates concerning the notification of illegal content by all users, the effectiveness of its internal complaint-handling system, and the accuracy of information gathered from traders, particularly those involved in the AliExpress Affiliate Program. Moreover, the proceedings will scrutinize the transparency of the platform’s recommender systems and its compliance with providing researchers access to publicly available data, as required by the DSA.
The Commission’s decision to open formal proceedings does not presuppose the outcome but allows for further investigative measures such as information requests, interviews, and inspections. This process, devoid of a set legal timeframe, will depend on the case’s complexity and the degree of cooperation from AliExpress. The proceedings also temporarily shift the supervisory responsibilities from Digital Services Coordinators to the Commission, specifically concerning the suspected DSA infringements.
AliExpress, identified as a Very Large Online Platform since April 2023 and boasting over 100 million monthly active users in the EU, is under scrutiny to ensure compliance with the DSA’s stringent requirements. The ongoing investigations serve as a critical measure to uphold consumer protection and the integrity of digital services within the EU, reflecting the broader commitment to regulating online platforms and safeguarding EU citizens from digital harms.
