Shanghai Consumer Council Criticizes Auto-Renewal Practices on Major Apps
The Shanghai Consumer Council has released a report identifying significant shortcomings in the auto-renewal subscription practices of 70 mobile applications and 30 short-video platforms. The investigation, cited by Chinese media outlet IThome, revealed that many services failed to provide transparent renewal pricing or adequate prior notification to users. Specific examples included Weibo, which omitted renewal prices on its payment page, and Xiaoxiang Supermarket, which bundled service agreements with payment steps to bypass detailed user consent. Additionally, Evernote was criticized for failing to notify users of upcoming renewal dates through any channel. The report also highlighted substantial barriers to canceling subscriptions, noting that while 47.1% of apps allowed direct in-app cancellation, nearly half required users to navigate external payment channels. In response, the Council recommended that companies improve price visibility, implement multiple notification methods, and simplify cancellation processes. These recommendations aim to align corporate practices with the new guidelines of the Consumer Protection Law, which came into effect on July 1. This action underscores increasing regulatory scrutiny on digital consumer rights and transparency in China's tech sector.
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Shanghai Consumer Council Criticizes Auto-Renewal Practices on Major Apps
The Shanghai Consumer Council has released a report identifying significant shortcomings in the auto-renewal subscription practices of 70 mobile applications and 30 short-video platforms. The investigation, cited by Chinese media outlet IThome, revealed that many services failed to provide transparent renewal pricing or adequate prior notification to users. Specific examples included Weibo, which omitted renewal prices on its payment page, and Xiaoxiang Supermarket, which bundled service agreements with payment steps to bypass detailed user consent. Additionally, Evernote was criticized for failing to notify users of upcoming renewal dates through any channel. The report also highlighted substantial barriers to canceling subscriptions, noting that while 47.1% of apps allowed direct in-app cancellation, nearly half required users to navigate external payment channels. In response, the Council recommended that companies improve price visibility, implement multiple notification methods, and simplify cancellation processes. These recommendations aim to align corporate practices with the new guidelines of the Consumer Protection Law, which came into effect on July 1. This action underscores increasing regulatory scrutiny on digital consumer rights and transparency in China's tech sector.
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