AliExpress agrees to binding EU rules on data and transparency
Under EU pressure, AliExpress will let users opt out of personalisation and provide clearer information on how its algorithm ranks products.
AliExpress has agreed to legally binding commitments with the European Commission to comply with the Digital Services Act (DSA). These cover six key areas, including recommender systems, advertising transparency, and researcher data access.
The announcement on 18 June marks only the second case where a major platform, following TikTok, has formally committed to specific changes under the DSA.
The platform promised greater transparency in its recommendation algorithms, user opt-out from personalisation, and clearer information on product rankings. It is also committed to allowing researchers access to publicly available platform data through APIs and customised requests. However, the lack of clear definitions around terms such as ‘systemic risk’ and ‘public data’ may limit practical oversight.
AliExpress has also established an internal monitoring team to ensure implementation of these commitments. Yet experts argue that without measurable benchmarks and external verification, internal monitoring may not be enough to guarantee meaningful compliance or accountability.
The Commission, meanwhile, is continuing its investigation into the platform’s role in the distribution of illegal products.
These commitments reflect the EU’s broader enforcement strategy under the DSA, aiming to establish transparency and accountability across digital platforms.
