EU Commission opens proceedings against online marketplace AliExpress Hamas proposes hostage deal +++ Protests against conscription of ultra-Orthodox Jews

The European Commission is launching proceedings against the online marketplace AliExpress. The aim is to investigate whether the Chinese platform violates EU rules with illegal and pornographic content, as the Brussels authority announced on Thursday.

According to its own information, the committee had already conducted a preliminary investigation. The results led to the start of formal proceedings against the company.

The online marketplace is accused, among other things, of not doing enough to combat illegal content. There are certain products on the platform that endanger the health of consumers, for example counterfeit medicines, the committee said. Furthermore, not all users are given the option to report illegal content. AliExpress also does not do enough against influencers, i.e. internet celebrities who promote illegal or harmful products through an affiliate program.

The Commission had already opened similar proceedings against X (formerly Twitter) and TikTok. Major online platforms are required by a new EU Digital Services Law (DSA) to take strict action against illegal content, such as hate speech and online hate speech.

Since the law came into effect, the Brussels government has sent a list of questions to several major online platforms, including Facebook’s parent company Meta and Snapchat. For example, they must provide information on how they protect the mental health of young people. (rbu/sda/awp/dpa)