Controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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2022
China's market regulator fines Bilibili, Tencent and Alibaba
Fine or penalty
China's State Administration for Market Regulation imposed a 500,000-yuan fine each on Bilibili, Tencent Holdings and Alibaba Group for violating the Anti-Monopoly Law. The regulator said the companies had failed to declare concentrations of business operators as required by law.
Source excerpt
The State Administration for Market Regulation, China's top market regulator, imposed a fine of 500,000 yuan ($78,000) each on leading video platform Bilibili, Tencent Holdings and Alibaba Group for violating the Anti-Monopoly Law, according to its official website on Wednesday.
The SAMR said these companies were found to have not declared the concentration of business operators as per the law.
2021
Alibaba Group fined 18.228 billion yuan for platform 'choose one of two' monopolistic conduct
On April 10, 2021, the State Administration for Market Regulation found that Alibaba Group abused its dominant position in China's online retail platform services market, excluding and restricting competition through 'choose one of two,' and imposed a fine of 4% of its 2019 domestic sales, amounting to 18.228 billion yuan.
2021
China fines technology companies over undeclared acquisitions
Fine or penalty
In a regulatory action, China's State Administration for Market Regulation fined Alibaba, Tencent, Baidu, JD.com and Suning for failing to report 43 corporate acquisitions over the past eight years. Each violation carries a penalty of 500,000 yuan. The fines were imposed for the failure to declare the acquisitions as required.
Source excerpt
Other companies fined include e-tailers JD.com Inc. and Suning Ltd. and the search engine Baidu Inc.
As part of a larger anti-monopoly crackdown, China fined tech giants, including Alibaba Group and Tencent Holdings, for not reporting 43 acquisitions over the past eight years.
2021
Chinese regulators fine Alibaba $2.75 billion
Fine or penalty
Chinese regulators fined Alibaba Group $2.75 billion for violating anti-monopoly rules and abusing its leading market position. SAMR said Alibaba had abused market dominance since 2015 by preventing merchants from using other online e-commerce platforms.
Company response
Ongoing disclosure — Alibaba
Alibaba said it would resolutely implement SAMR's rulings and work to improve corporate compliance.
Source excerpt
On Saturday SAMR accused Alibaba of "abusing market dominance" since 2015 by preventing its merchants from using other online e-commerce platforms, violating China's anti-monopoly law by impeding the free circulation of goods and infringing on the business interests of merchants.
In a statement posted on its Weibo account, Alibaba said it would resolutely implement SAMR's rulings and work to improve corporate compliance.
Alibaba Group has been fined $2.75 billion by Chinese regulators for violating anti-monopoly rules and abusing its leading market position.
2021
Alibaba fined for abusing market dominance
Fine or penalty
China's State Administration for Market Regulation fined Alibaba Group 18.228 billion yuan and ordered it to stop its illegal conduct, determining that Alibaba had abused its dominant position in China's online retail platform services market through its “choose one of two” requirements imposed on merchants.
Company response
Remediation — 阿里巴巴
我们将强化依法经营，进一步加强合规体系建设，立足创新发展，更好履行社会责任。
Clarification — 阿里巴巴集团
阿里巴巴集团随后表示，接受、服从这一处罚决定，将依法经营，进一步强化合规体系建设，立足创新发展，更好履行社会责任。
Source excerpt
经查，阿里巴巴集团在中国境内网络零售平台服务市场具有支配地位。自2015年以来，阿里巴巴集团滥用该市场支配地位，对平台内商家提出“二选一”要求，禁止平台内商家在其他竞争性平台开店或参加促销活动
2021年4月10日，市场监管总局依法作出行政处罚决定，责令阿里巴巴集团停止违法行为，并处以其2019年中国境内销售额4557.12亿元4%的罚款，计182.28亿元。
今天上午，阿里巴巴集团因“平台二选一”被市场监管总局依法出行政处罚，处以182.28亿元罚款。
2021
China fines Alibaba for anti-competitive conduct
Fine or penalty
China's State Administration for Market Regulation fined Alibaba 18.228 billion yuan after determining that it had abused its dominant position in China's online retail platform services market by requiring merchants to choose between platforms. Alibaba accepted the penalty and promised to comply with the law.
Company response
Remediation — Alibaba Group
The fine was equal to 4% of Alibaba's total 2019 sales, with the company accepting the penalty and promising to operate in accordance with the law with utmost diligence.
Remediation — Alibaba Group
Alibaba posted an official statement on Weibo saying that it accepted the decision and would immediately work on implementing SAMR’s rulings.
Source excerpt
2021年4月10日，市场监管总局依法作出行政处罚决定，责令阿里巴巴集团停止违法行为，并处以其2019年中国境内销售额4557.12亿元4%的罚款，计182.28亿元。
China imposed a fine of 18.2 billion yuan ($2.8 billion) on Alibaba Group after an anti-monopoly probe, part of a regulatory crackdown that has raised concerns about the future of Jack Ma’s tech empire.
2021年4月10日，中国市场监管总局宣布，认定阿里巴巴在中国境内网络零售平台服务市场具有支配地位，且自2015年以来滥用该市场支配地位推行“二选一”。根据反垄断法，决定对阿里巴巴处以182.28亿元人民币罚款。
2021
China imposes antitrust fine on Alibaba
Fine or penalty
China's State Administration for Market Regulation fined Alibaba 18.228 billion yuan for abusing its dominant position in China's online retail platform services market and ordered it to stop the unlawful conduct. The regulator also required comprehensive rectification and three years of compliance self-inspection reports.
Company response
Clarification — 阿里巴巴
对此处罚，我们诚恳接受，坚决服从。
Remediation — 阿里巴巴
我们将强化依法经营，进一步加强合规体系建设，立足创新发展，更好履行社会责任。
Source excerpt
2021年4月10日，市场监管总局依法作出行政处罚决定，责令阿里巴巴集团停止违法行为，并处以其2019年中国境内销售额4557.12亿元4%的罚款，计182.28亿元。
自2015年以来，阿里巴巴集团滥用该市场支配地位，对平台内商家提出“二选一”要求，禁止平台内商家在其他竞争性平台开店或参加促销活动
中国市场监管总局4月10日依法对阿里巴巴集团控股有限公司在中国境内网络零售平台服务市场实施“二选一”垄断行为作出行政处罚，责令阿里巴巴集团停止违法行为，并处以其2019年中国境内销售额4557.12亿元4%的罚款，计182.28亿元。
2020
Jiang Fan family and social media controversy sparks reputational crisis and internal discipline
In April 2020, then Taobao and Tmall President Jiang Fan caused a serious public opinion crisis due to improper handling of family issues. Alibaba removed his partner status, issued a demerit, demoted him, and canceled his previous year's bonus. The company's investigation also said that there was no benefit transfer in his investment in Ruhan E-commerce and Zhang Dayi's store. This entry retains the investigation conclusion and does not present online rumors about personal relationships as established illegality.
2020
China announces fines for three companies over deal-reporting failures
Fine or penalty
In December 2020, China's market regulator announced fines of 500,000 yuan each for Alibaba Group, China Literature and Shenzhen Hive Box. The penalties were imposed because the companies did not properly report deals for anti-trust review. The regulator stated that the three companies failed to declare transactions as required for anti-trust scrutiny. Each company was fined the same amount. The announcement identified the three firms by name and specified the reason for the fines as deal-reporting failures related to anti-trust reviews.
China’s market regulator said it would fine Alibaba Group, China Literature and Shenzhen Hive Box 500,000 yuan each for not reporting deals properly for anti-trust reviews.
Source excerpt
China’s market regulator said on Monday it will fine Alibaba Group, Tencent Holdings-backed China Literature and Shenzhen Hive Box 500,000 yuan ($76,464.29) each for not reporting deals properly for anti-trust reviews.
2020
China fines Alibaba and a Tencent unit over past deals
Fine or penalty
Chinese regulators fined Alibaba Group and a Tencent Holdings unit 500,000 yuan each for failing to declare past acquisitions under the country's anti-monopoly laws. According to the report, Alibaba should have sought approval before increasing its stake in Intime Retail Group to 73.79% in 2017. The fines relate to the failure to declare these past deals as required by anti-monopoly regulations.
Source excerpt
Alibaba should have sought approval from the State Administration for Market Regulation before increasing its stake in department store chain Intime Retail Group to 73.79 per cent in 2017, according to a statement Monday.
2020
Alibaba says it reported mask seller to authorities
Company response
In response to the report of a Hebei business fined for selling substandard masks, Alibaba said it had reported information about the matter to administrative law-enforcement authorities.
Company response
Investigation — 阿里巴巴
阿里方面在今天进行了回应，称曾向行政执法机关举报信息
Source excerpt
经查，该店在销售防护口罩等防护产品时，其天猫店铺网页发布“医用三层一次性无纺布口罩”“外科口罩N95”等虚假宣传内容，且存在哄抬价格违法行为。
针对之前河北一企业销售假劣口罩被罚180万的事件，阿里方面在今天进行了回应，称曾向行政执法机关举报信息。
2011
China supplier fraud incident leads CEO Wei Zhe and COO Li Xuhui to resign
In February 2011, Alibaba's B2B company disclosed that some China supplier accounts were suspected of fraud, with sales staff either assisting or failing to review properly; the company cleaned up the accounts involved, and CEO Wei Zhe and COO Li Xuhui resigned to take responsibility. Resigning to take responsibility does not constitute a finding that the two committed a criminal offense.
U.S. investor class action lawsuit