Latest news with #AliExpress
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
EU takes action against AliExpress for DSA compliance issues
The European Commission (EC) has provisionally determined that AliExpress failed to fulfil its duty to evaluate and reduce the risks associated with the spread of unlawful products as required by the Digital Services Act (DSA). The commission is advancing its investigation regarding AliExpress's adherence to the DSA aimed at bolstering online user and consumer protection. The Commission's preliminary conclusions indicate several areas where AliExpress's practices do not align with DSA requirements for Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs). The platform's risk assessment appears to overlook the limitations of its moderation capabilities, leading to an underestimation of the risk related to the spread of illegal products. AliExpress has reportedly not effectively implemented its sanctions policy against sellers who consistently list illegal items. There are indications of significant shortcomings in AliExpress's proactive content moderation systems, which reduce their effectiveness and leave room for exploitation by unscrupulous sellers. These issues represent a failure to adequately evaluate and address systemic risks associated with the distribution of illegal content, including counterfeit items and products that fail to meet European safety standards. The preliminary findings do not predetermine the final outcome of the investigation. AliExpress now has the opportunity to respond to the EC's concerns. If the EC's initial view is confirmed, it may result in a non-compliance decision, potential fines and an obligation for AliExpress to submit an action plan to remedy the infringement. The formal proceedings to assess AliExpress' adherence to the DSA began on 14 March 2024, focusing on risk management, content moderation, complaint handling, advertising transparency, trader traceability and data access for researchers. EC tech sovereignty, security and democracy executive vice-president Henna Virkkunen stated: 'We have been able to take concrete steps to ensure a high level of safety for EU [European Union] citizens while maintaining a level playing field for platforms and traders in the EU market. This decision serves as an illustration of the commission's expectations when we raise concerns. We welcome AliExpress' commitments towards becoming safer for users, fairer for legitimate traders and a better online platform for all.' The EC has also accepted and made legally binding a series of commitments from AliExpress to address concerns about its transparency on advertising and recommender systems. AliExpress has agreed to a range of commitments to improve the monitoring and detection of illegal products on its platform, such as medicines, food supplements and adult material. These commitments also cover the platform's notice and action mechanism, internal complaint handling system, transparency of advertising and recommender systems, trader traceability and access to public data for researchers. These measures are designed to make information and tools for limiting the spread of illegal content easily accessible. AliExpress has also committed to maintaining an internal monitoring framework, overseen by a dedicated team, to ensure the effectiveness of these commitments and to conduct regular risk assessments. An independent monitoring trustee will report to the EC annually on the implementation of these commitments. "EU takes action against AliExpress for DSA compliance issues" was originally created and published by Retail Insight Network, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
CNET
9 hours ago
- CNET
Here's My Experience With 5 Cheap Gadgets I Bought From AliExpress
If you're shopping online, you may have noticed products from Temu and AliExpress often come up in your shopping search. These items are so cheap that you may wonder if it's really a steal or if you should stay away. I was in that boat as well. And I love a good YouTube video where the host tests cheap tech from low-cost retailers. So, curious as I am, I decided to try my hand at testing cheap home products from the popular discount marketplace, AliExpress. Now, when shopping for a new piece of home hardware, gaming gear or audio tech, cheap tech usually equates to low-quality performance. But as I've come to learn, that's not always the case. Rules for the experiment Products must cost less than $15. Devices need to be cheaper than a mainstream equivalent. Weird devices are more likely to make the list. I'm happy to report it was an authentic experience with a mix of good-ish products and some really bad ones. From best to worst, here's how my AliExpress order played out. Best: Tuya Zigbee smart USB adaptor switch It's the smallest plug in my smart home. John Carlsen/CNET USB chargers for lighting and small devices occupy far too much space in my smart plugs, so I always wondered if I could get a USB smart plug. I got the Tuya Zigbee Smart USB Adaptor Switch -- which includes three USB-A ports -- for a measly $5.02. Tuya devices like these are hidden gems for smart home enthusiasts, though they aren't always the easiest to work with. I'm glad it was easy to link to my SmartThings home automation system. It's not much more than an on/off switch, but I like the fact that I don't need a bulky USB multiport charger to run the few small USB devices on my nightstand. You can't control the ports independently -- and the power output is too low for charging most devices, but it's a good option for trickle-charging portable speakers or headphones. Plus, it can connect to practically any USB power supply, including empty ports on my computer. The Smart USB Adaptor Switch earns an A for value and functionality. As a Zigbee device, it's also less of a cybersecurity liability than any Wi-Fi device from AliExpress and Temu. Better: USB-powered ceiling fan A handy little ceiling fan. John Carlsen/CNET Ceiling fans have always been out of reach, since I live in an archaic apartment without them. This means relying on a fleet of air circulators in my bedroom and office. But what if renters could add a ceiling fan without the hassle of begging the property manager to install one? Enter the tiny ceiling fan I got for $14. I like the design of this fan, especially the 12-foot USB cord, which is long enough to reach a ceiling hook without much effort. The fan is surprisingly quiet and uses three power settings. Still, it's not particularly powerful, with the highest setting producing a light breeze from a few feet away. The speed and timer controls are easy to learn, which is great because the entire manual is written in Chinese. You can get the gist of the manual by using Google Lens to translate the text, but it's largely unnecessary. I give this product a B+ for being useful, albeit in niche settings where normal ceiling fans aren't practical. Good: Tuya Zigbee water sensor The water sensor worked OK but I'm not sure why it came with three reset pins. John Carlsen/CNET Unlike Tuya's smart USB switch, the Tuya Zigbee water sensor didn't properly connect to my SmartThings system on the first try. SmartThings classified it as a generic Zigbee device -- it couldn't see when the sensor detected water. This is a textbook example of Tuya's devices not always playing nicely with smart home hubs. So I rolled up my sleeves and dug into the SmartThings Edge Driver Builder, a developer tool for assigning drivers to smart home devices. After selecting my Tuya leak sensor from the list of devices in my smart home, I chose the Zigbee Water Leak Sensor driver and configured it as a water sensor. Like magic, the sensor started working. It's pretty responsive, and I like that it uses common AAA batteries. The extra effort might be worth the $4.59 I paid for the Tuya Zigbee Water Sensor, but I can't give it more than a C+ for someone who wants out-of-the-box smart home compatibility with SmartThings. I can't gauge whether it's great for other smart home platforms, but I suspect it's even better in Home Assistant. Now Playing: Testing Temu Tech So You Don't Have To 13:52 Worse: Smart Wi-Fi clock movement mechanism No hands on deck. John Carlsen/CNET I recently began transitioning most of the analog clocks in my home to tickless clock movements, which are less annoying than the ticking of a second hand when you're trying to fall asleep at 2 a.m. Let's try a smart Wi-Fi clock movement mechanism to set the time automatically like the digital clock on my Google Nest Hub. What followed was one of my most frustrating setup experiences in years. Out of the box, the clock I bought didn't come with any hands for seconds, minutes or hours. I spent far too long trying to fit some leftover hands from a previous DIY project, only to find that the clock didn't work. The included instructions, which came on a sheet of printer paper, were not helpful. They don't say that you need to remove the gray "locating needle" from the back of the clock before it will work. This pin locks the gears in place at Noon, likely to keep the clock aligned during shipping and when putting on the hands, which makes sense on a Wi-Fi clock that sets itself. It took two hours before I got it working. Plain-text passwords are visible to everyone. John Carlsen/CNET I'm even more disappointed with the Wi-Fi connection, which is not even close to secure. Anyone can open the clock's Wi-Fi connection to see your network's name and password. So glad I used my phone's hotspot for a temporary network. I give this product, which costs $14.01, a D- for working as advertised, even if it takes a while, and comes with a major Wi-Fi vulnerability. However, it's not the worst product by a long shot. Worst: Smart portable clothes dryer It's not supposed to be this droopy. John Carlsen/CNET I got the Beauty-Health Store smart portable clothes dryer for just $12.32. I won't waste your time: This is the most dangerous product from my AliExpress order. How do I know this? It quite literally melted about 2 hours into my very first drying session. The plastic in this product is not heat-resistant in any way. It didn't even dry a single shirt completely, so there's no reason to buy a cheap portable clothes dryer when laundromats can handle much larger drying loads for a fraction of the price. When I went online to see if other customers experienced this problem, I noticed the product page was no longer available. With my suspicions confirmed, I won't even delve into the features of this terrible product. Instead, I'll use it as an example to reinforce why buying generic electronics from AliExpress, Temu, Wish and other cheap retailers is risky. With certain categories of tech, you're gambling on your safety and privacy. As you can imagine, this device earns an F for being unsafe. Now, excuse me while I navigate the 90-day AliExpress return policy, which is one bright spot. Hopefully, it fares better than these last two products.
Buzz Feed
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
12 Must-Have EOFY Home Upgrades Worth Buying
We're coming up to EOFY, and your feeds, inboxes and entire brain is probably filled with sales. And, when we say goodies, we mean goodies. Take a look below. This enamelled cast iron Dutch oven that's a kitchen workhorse and can handle everything from braising hearty stews to baking mouthwatering desserts. Promising review: 'Fantastic quality. The colour is beautiful and it's a good size for first-time Dutch oven users. It's heavy so bear that in mind but I would absolutely recommend it!' —MaddisonBuy it from Amazon Australia for $74.90. This vertical foot warmer that's just what we all need moving into colder days — especially when you were raised to never switch on the heater. This heating pad won't add any excess noise pollution to your space but it will make it warm and cosy. It used infrared to heat up the area much like those saunas you see with different LED lights. And it has a low power consumption, to get through a cozzie livs winter. Buy it from AliExpress for $89.99. This LG Soundbar SG10TY that'll make your lounge room feel like an actual cinema, and you can save $1000 (!!!) when you bundle it with with an LG OLED G5 TV. Plug it in, pair it up and let the sound wrap around you. The LG G Series Sound Bar SG10TY brings 420W of Dolby Atmos® power in a sleek, wall-hugging profile that's designed to match your LG OLED G series TV. Whether you're syncing it with your compatible LG TV via WOW Orchestra or streaming playlists through Chromecast or AirPlay 2, it's all about big sound, made seamless. And, if you get this soundbar right now alongside any LG OLED evo G5 TV as a bundle, you can get $1000 off. Yes, you read that right — $1000 OFF. Gimme gimme it from LG for $1,499. This fancy gadget that removes way more plaque than flossing ever could, leaving your mouth feeling squeaky clean and dentist-approved. Promising review: "I love the larger water tank, the easy-to-use pik, and the extendable hose. Not filling the tank is worth the dollars. I highly recommend this."— Hector EliasBuy it from Amazon Australia for $177.95. This desktop water dispenser that uses reverse osmosis to draw out impurities without installing a filter and you can adjust its temperature in a matter of seconds. Using the app, you can easily pre-measure capacities so the dispenser can fill up your bottle, cup or vessel with just one tap. The machine also tells you when the water level's low and can easily be taken from home to getaway accomodations to a function. Buy it from AliExpress for $435.99. This smart blender that can do it all without too much noise. From food processing to making smoothies, the built-in noise reduction ensures it won't make a racket. The blender's encased in a cast aluminium spray ceramic — ideal for breaking down roasted veggies for soups and savoury dishes too. Buy it from AliExpress $117.39. This baseboard heater that has immediate heating for the whole house — despite its slimline build! Colder days are coming and this graphene heater will create a warming environment without drying up the air. And, it'll do it quietly!Buy it from AliExpress for $289.99. This handheld vacuum cleaner which uses triple filtration with a super strong suction that'll pick up a whole lot of hair and dust off your house floor. Weighing in a only 1.5kg, this vacuum might be lightweight but don't let that fool you into thinking it means less power. The smooth air duct ensures that dust is picked up and trapped quickly — plus, it's easy to clean. Buy it from AliExpress for $122.69. This heated back massager that'll knead and work at your muscles, so that they can carry on living their best life without neck and back pain. This massager features four deep-kneading massage nodes and a heating function to provide them with optimum comfort and relief from the tension you've been carrying around. The velcro strap also makes it easy to secure it to any chair, so they can enjoy their massage while you're working, watching a movie or just hanging out. Buy it from Amazon Australia for $80.53. This white noise machine that encourages your best sleep, which will probably have you waking up in a much better mood. This sound machine has 20 unique sounds that don't loop. There's also a sleep timer, so you don't have to worry about it running all review: "Light sleeper, apartment dweller: This sound machine literally changed my life. I moved into an apartment for the first time in my life one year ago and hearing my neighbours move around at night used to make me so anxious. This little machine blurs it all out! I CANNOT sleep without it now, it's the best purchase I have ever made and I would seriously recommend any light sleepers purchase it. My partner now loves it too." —Julia WillingBuy it from Amazon Australia for $99.99. This flat-weight bench that's built to last and easy to assemble, perfect for strength training, weightlifting, or just doing some good old-fashioned push-ups. Promising review: "I used the four nyloc nuts on the base of the vertical tubes and tightened the bolts with "extraordinary strength" as instructed by the spanner… The package included spare bolts and nuts too. No, seriously, no trips to the hardware store for missing nuts/washers/bolts! The bench is well padded and I'm very happy with the purchase." —Darren RBuy it from Amazon Australia for $109.98. And finally, this weight bench that's a total gym rat's dream come true, easily folding away when not in use but offering all the adjustments they need to get a full-body workout at home. Promising review: 'I have to say I am very impressed with the quality of this bench. For the price… I am very pleasantly surprised for once. I'm 6'2" and 110kg and the bench is long enough whether upright or flat. The padding is firm, but not like sitting on a board, and is fine for me. The build is solid and does not flex or creak under my weight at all. The seat and back support both slide up and down very easily and the pins are very quick to release and tighten. The setup was extremely easy and took less than 10 minutes. You don't need a Swedish degree in flatpack. 😄' —RWBuy it from Amazon Australia for $189.99.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Daily Mail
'Spectacular for the price!': I tested the budget-friendly robot vacuum that rivals models twice the price - and it's 56% off right now
If, like me, vacuuming is the chore you dread the most, then this affordable robot vacuum may be the dust-busting solution you've been looking for. Designed to keep your home spotless without you having to lift a finger, the Lubluelu L15 Plus from AliExpress is a two-in-one vacuum and mop robot that claims to make keeping your spaces spick and span easier than ever. So, I put it to the test. Lubluelu L15 Plus Robot Vacuum Whether you're juggling work and kids or simply hate dragging out the vacuum cleaner, the Lubluelu L15 Plus Robot Vacuum could be the game-changing gadget your home has been missing. Yours for just £132.19 reduced from £329.94 (a huge 59 per cent discount), this impressive robot vacuum is app-controlled and utterly easy to use, designed to vacuum and mop in one for a spotless clean that requires zero effort. £132.19 (save £197.75) Shop If, like me, you've ever dreamed of never having to clean again, then a robot vacuum like this one may be the solution you've been looking for. And better still? It won't break the bank, either. Whether you're juggling work and kids or simply hate dragging out the vacuum cleaner, the Lubluelu L15 Plus Robot Vacuum could be the game-changing gadget your home's been missing - and with rave reviews flooding in of its impressive suction and reliable design, it's no wonder it's flying off shelves. 'This robot vacuum is truly spectacular for the price,' raved one impressed five-star reviewer. 'I purchased a different model four years ago for the same amount, and it lacked many of the advanced features found here. 'The lidar mapping technology is excellent; it quickly and accurately mapped my four downstairs rooms in only 20 minutes before getting straight to work. I appreciate the ability to schedule cleaning times, and its return to the docking station is consistently flawless.' Yours for just £132.19 reduced from £329.94 (a huge 59 per cent discount), the Lubluelu L15 Plus is app-controlled and utterly easy to use, designed to vacuum and mop in one for a spotless clean that requires zero effort. Ideal for carpets and hard floors alike, the robot vacuum works hard to keep your spaces clean, boasting powerful 5000PA suction that makes light work of dirt, debris and pet hair, while the mop mode tackles dirty floors with ease. Whether you're cleaning the whole room or just the edges, you can pick and choose just how you want your clean to go. The vacuum will even increase the suction power to maximum when a carpet is detected, ensuring no muck is left behind. Connecting seamlessly to your home Wi-Fi, the Lubluelu L15 Plus can be controlled using the easy-to-use app, which enables you to schedule, monitor in real-time, choose specifics of your cleaning, amend your home map, and so much more. Got spaces you don't want your vac to go? It's easy to set up no-go zones to ensure your vacuum avoids areas such as pet bowls, cords, delicate rugs or even specific rooms – especially ideal when you're using it to mop hard floors. The vacuum is suitable for big and small jobs alike, too, thanks to its huge 2L auto empty dock that automatically empties the collected dust and debris into an enclosed bag at the end of each clean and notifies you when the bag is full. Cleaning has never been so, well, clean. But what did I think of the Lubluelu L15 Plus Robot Vacuum? App and setup Setup with this vacuum was incredibly easy, and it came with three-quarters of a tank of charge, which meant I could get straight to work after configuring the app – which took minutes. Instantly, the little vacuum got to work mapping out my floorplan, working out each cleanable nook and cranny in a matter of minutes and translating them onto the map for me to see. Each cleaning space, or 'room', was neatly labelled for easy control. Because that's one thing about this app-controlled vacuum – it's all incredibly easy to use. Whether you're scheduling cleans, creating no-go areas, cleaning specific rooms, playing with suction levels, or even switching up the mop-wetness levels, everything is simple and user-friendly. Vacuum I sent the little vacuum out first to tackle my hard floor layout that hadn't been hoovered in a few weeks, so it was a reasonably tough first mission. Despite being simply on 'Standard' suction mode rather than 'Strong' or 'Max', it made light work of dust, debris and hair, leaving my floors totally clean - and I didn't even have to pick up my handheld vacuum. Skirting around chair and table legs with ease (which I wasn't expecting it to be able to do), it cleaned in the places that even I find hard to reach, like under the sofa and coffee tables. This is all thanks to its fairly slim, low-to-the-ground design, which slips under furniture easily. It's worth noting that while the vac is low to the ground, it's not small in general, which feels at odds with its 250ml capacity. It's quieter than I expected too, but probably just a touch too loud to ignore if you're watching TV in the same room with it. Far quieter than my current vacuum, which costs twice the price! Now, you do have to make sure that any wires, blankets and shoelaces are tucked away, or it will suck them up and get all confused, but I now have a little pre-vac ritual where such things are tucked away for easy cleaning. Dock After each clean you send it out on, the vacuum returns to its dock and empties by itself, which makes a noise akin to a proper vacuum for about 30 seconds. Not too bad. One small issue is that the dock requires lots of space around it for the vacuum to successfully find it to charge and empty, which I don't necessarily have. Thus, I have to move my table a bit in order for it to find its home. Mop The mop function of this little vacuum seriously impressed me, simply using water to scrub your floor clean. It was easy to fill the water tank, and even after mopping my entire flat, the water tank was only half empty. You can choose how wet you'd like it to mop, from 'Low' to 'High, as well as what I chose – 'Medium', which left some slight wet residue but dried very quickly. While it wasn't quite able to tackle my larger floor stains super easily, with a spritz of surface spray on each heavier mark a few minutes before, the vacuum was able to clean them away successfully. Thus, while you shouldn't put detergents in the water tank, you could easily pop some on the floor for a deeper clean. And once I was finished and my floors were spotless? I simply removed the Velcro mop head and chucked it in the washing machine. What could be easier? Final verdict I'll admit, when I saw the low price of the Lubluelu L15 Plus Robot Vacuum I didn't think it would work anywhere near as well as it did. But, truthfully, I'm so incredibly impressed by this vacuum that I can't see myself without it now. Quickly and efficiently, it vacuums, sweeps and mops deftly, and comes with a very user-friendly app, sleek design and reasonably quiet performance; all for just over £130. It's a real bargain, if you ask me, and a total five out of five. After your own little household cleaner for less? Snap up your own Lubluelu L15 Plus Robot Vacuum at a reduced price here at
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
China's AliExpress risks fine for breaching EU illegal product rules
Chinese online giant AliExpress must do more to protect consumers from illegal product sales , the European Commission said Wednesday in an interim finding that could open the way to heavy fines. While noting some progress, "the Commission preliminarily found AliExpress in breach of its obligation to assess and mitigate risks related to the dissemination of illegal products" under the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA), a statement said. The EU opened a formal investigation in March 2024 into AliExpress, which is owned by Alibaba, for multiple suspected breaches of DSA rules on countering the spread of illegal goods and content online. The commission's preliminary findings concluded that "AliExpress fails to appropriately enforce its penalty policy concerning traders that repeatedly post illegal content". It also highlighted "systemic failures" in AliExpress's moderation systems that expose it to "manipulation by malicious traders", and said the firm's own risk assessments underestimated the dangers linked to illegal products. Those findings were "in breach of the obligations" that the DSA imposes on very large platforms -- such as AliExpress, Facebook and Instagram -- with more than 45 million monthly European users, the commission said. AliExpress now has the right to examine the commission's findings and reply in writing. If AliExpress is confirmed to be in non-compliance with the DSA, the commission could impose a fine of up to six percent of the firm's global turnover. The EU has developed a powerful armoury to regulate Big Tech with the 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. It took action against AliExpress after identifying likely failings to prevent the sale of fake medicines, prevent minors seeing pornography, stop affiliated influencers pushing illegal products, and other issues including data access for researchers. In its statement Wednesday, the commission said AliExpress had taken a series of legally binding measures to remedy those concerns. Steps included improvements to its systems for detecting illegal products such as medicines and pornographic material, notably goods spread through hidden links and affiliate programmes. The commission also said AliExpress had addressed concerns regarding the flagging of illegal products, the handling of internal complaints, ad transparency, the traceability of traders and research access to data. ec/ub/js
