NPC deputy Chen Lina proposes banning month‑end data wipe and removing unfair telecom contract clauses

Proposal and rationale

National People’s Congress deputy Chen Lina (陈莉娜), deputy chief procurator of the Qiaoxi District People’s Procuratorate in Shijiazhuang, has proposed a sweeping remedy to what she described as telecom industry monopoly and "霸王条款" that harm consumers and distort market order. It has been reported that, speaking during the Two Sessions, Chen called for a ban on month‑end data wipe (月末清零) and for comprehensive removal of unfair standard contract terms such as automatic renewal clauses and opaque pricing practices. Who benefits when consumers lose prepaid data or face hidden fees? Chen framed the issue as both a rights and a rule‑of‑market problem.

Industry specifics and precedent

The complaint targets practices among China’s three major carriers — China Mobile (中国移动), China Unicom (中国联通) and China Telecom (中国电信) — which, it has been reported, have in some cases used exclusive agreements and other mechanisms that regulators have already punished as anti‑competitive. Since October 1, 2015 these operators have allowed unused mobile data to be rolled over into the following month — but only for one additional month; data still clears on the third month. Chen’s call would push beyond that limited rollover to eliminate month‑end clearing entirely and to purge unfair boilerplate contract terms that courts have frequently found unlawful, such as automatic renewal and data‑zeroing clauses.

Context and possible impact

The proposal fits Beijing’s broader regulatory push to rein in monopolistic behavior and strengthen consumer protection — a trend that has reshaped China’s tech and telecommunications policy since 2020. If regulators take up Chen’s suggestions, carriers would face adjustments to billing, contract templates and marketing practices, and regulators would need to spell out enforcement mechanisms and penalties. It has been reported that consumer groups have long complained about opaque tariffs and misleading promotions; stronger rules could bolster consumer rights but will also force incumbents to rethink revenue models.