The EU on Monday announced an investigation into Chinese e-commerce giant AliExpress, seeking more details on what measures it is taking to protect consumers online from illegal products, including fake medicines.
The European Commission said it had sent a formal request for information to AliExpress, owned by Alibaba, in what is a first step in a process under a new EU new law, the Digital Services Act (DSA), that aims to counter the spread of illegal goods and content online.
It said it wanted to know more about how AliExpress will "comply with obligations related to risk assessments and mitigation measures to protect consumers online, in particular with regard to the dissemination of illegal products online such as fake medicines".
AliExpress has until November 27 to respond.
The European Union has developed a powerful armoury to challenge the might of Big Tech with its milestone DSA and a sister law, the Digital Markets Act, that hits web giants with strict curbs, obligations and oversight on how they do business.
The DSA came into effect in August for 19 "very large" platforms, including AliExpress, Facebook and Instagram, that have more than 45 million monthly European users.
The EU has already started probes into Meta, TikTok and X (formerly Twitter), requesting more details about how they have acted against disinformation.
Platforms face fines that can go up to six percent of global turnover for violations.
The EU's top tech enforcer, Thierry Breton, stressed that the DSA was not just about countering hate speech and disinformation online.
"It is also there to ensure removal of illegal or unsafe products sold in the EU via e-commerce platforms, including the growing number of fake and potentially life-threatening medicines and pharmaceuticals sold online," Breton said.
- Fake weight-loss drugs -
Amazon Store, Google Shopping and clothing retailer Zalando are also among the 19 platforms named by the EU.
Amazon and Zalando have launched legal challenges against being designated on the list.
The DSA stipulates that online shopping sites must verify the identity of vendors before allowing them on their platforms and block repeat fraudsters.
The rules say online marketplaces may be held responsible for any damage from products bought by users that are non-compliant or dangerous.
The European Medicines Agency last week warned fake injection pens of Ozempic, a wildly popular diabetes drug that went viral on social media as a way to lose weight, were circulating in Europe.
A 2022 report by Europol and the European Union Intellectual Property Office warned of an increase in counterfeit goods shipped into the EU via small parcels.
"This notable increase is related to the growth in online marketplaces," it said.
According to the report, the production of fake goods and their sale were heavily reliant on online platforms, social media and instant messaging services.
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Artificial Intelligence Analysis
Objectives:
The European Union has launched an investigation into Chinese e-commerce giant AliExpress to understand what measures it is taking to protect consumers from illegal products, such as fake medicines.
Current
State-of-the-Art and Limitations:
The EU has already started probes into Meta, TikTok and Twitter, requesting more details about how they have acted against disinformation. Platforms face fines that can go up to six percent of global turnover for violations.
Whats New and Why it Will Succeed:
The European Union has developed a powerful arsenal to challenge the might of Big Tech with its milestone Digital Services Act (DSA) and a sister law, the Digital Markets Act, which hits web giants with strict curbs, obligations and oversight on how they do business.
Target Audience and Impact if Successful:
The target audience is AliExpress and other large platforms, such as Facebook and Instagram, which have more than 45 million monthly European users. The impact of success would be the removal of illegal or unsafe products sold in the EU via e-commerce platforms, including fake and potentially life-threatening medicines and pharmaceuticals sold online.
Risks Involved:
The risks involved in pursuing this approach would be the potential for large fines if the platforms are found to be in violation of the DSA.
Cost :
The cost of pursuing this approach would be the time and resources it would take for the EU to investigate, as well as the potential fines the platforms could face if found to be in violation.
Timeline:
The timeline for achieving results would depend on the length of the investigation and the response from the platforms.
Success Metrics:
The success metrics for this approach would be the removal of illegal or unsafe products sold in the EU via e-commerce platforms, as well as the platforms compliance with the DSA.
Score for Ability to Interest DARPA: 6/10
This approach has the potential to have a significant impact on e-commerce platforms, but may not be in line with DARPAs mission.
