( July 14, 2025, 07:47 GMT | Official Statement) — MLex Summary: Sixty-eight mobile apps have been flagged by Chinese authorities for illegally collecting and using personal data, according to the National Computer Virus Emergency Response Center, a technical unit under the country’s Internet regulator. The list includes apps linked to Guangzhou Automobile Group’s AION Y electric SUV, a software development kit from online game operator Xunlei, bubble tea brand ALittle Tea and China International Travel Service’s Aoyou platform. Authorities said violations included inadequate privacy notices, insufficient disclosure of third-party data-sharing arrangements and failure to provide accessible options to correct or delete user data. Several apps were also found to lack convenient opt-out mechanisms for automated marketing. The tests were conducted as part of a broader campaign led by China’s central authorities to strengthen personal-information protections.
The statement is attached: …
Travel Apps & Platforms
7 in 10 users faced dark patterns on travel platforms based on search
December 13, 2023, New Delhi: India has banned use of “dark patterns”, intended to deceive or manipulate customers’ choices, on e-commerce platforms. The final guidelines issued by the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) earlier this month follow the notification of the department of consumer affairs in September, when draft guidelines for the prevention and regulation of dark patterns were released for public consultation.
Besides misleading consumers, Dark Patterns also refer to the practice of manipulating their decision-making through misleading advertisements, creating unnecessary fear among them to continue a subscription or product purchase, among other things. As CCPA said in a notification, dark patterns amount to misleading advertisement or unfair trade practice or violation of consumer rights.
The final guidelines for prevention and regulation of dark patterns are applicable to all advertisers, sellers and platforms selling goods and services in India. The government has identified 13 types of dark patterns which include false urgency, basket sneaking, confirm shaming, forced action, subscription trap, interface interference, bait and switch, drip pricing, disguised advertisement, and nagging. The latest list also has trick questions, SaaS (software as a service) billing and rogue malwares identified as dark patterns.
Over the next 3 months, LocalCircles will be conducting a dark patterns review of 100 platforms in India and sector level surveys to understand as many dark pattern issues experienced by consumers. In this series, it has picked the online travel platforms as the first sector, given the high volume of consumer complaints. Some of the most commonly reported issues include, price manipulation based on user’s search pattern and eagerness to book, hidden costs and exhibiting false urgency. Given the Government’s dark patterns guidelines, LocalCircles conducted a survey to find out where consumers experienced them when booking travel or hotel via online platforms. The survey received over 33,000 responses from consumers located in 323 districts of India. 63% respondents were men while 37% respondents were women. 47% respondents were from tier 1, 33% from tier 2 and 20% respondents were from tier 3, 4 and rural districts.
Nearly 3 in 4 of those using travel apps/sites have experienced fare/ tariff surges very frequently
One of the issues that consumers have frequently reported on the LocalCircles platform is change in air fares and hotel room tariffs within a few minutes while they are still searching their flights or hotels. Some consumers have defined it as almost as if fares and tariffs are changing based on the number of searches or their eagerness to book. The first poll in the survey focused on this issue and asked consumers, “How often have you experienced with travel apps/ sites that the airfares/ hotel room tariffs have increased while you searched for it multiple times in a session?” This query received 11,001 responses with 73% of respondents who use travel apps/sites indicating that they have “very frequently” experienced surge in air fares/ hotel room tariffs after multiple searches, while 20% indicated that it happened “sometimes” in their case. Only 5% of the respondents indicated that such surges happened “rarely” and 2% opted for “can’t say”. In sum, nearly 3 in 4 of those using travel apps/sites have experienced fare/ tariff surges within the same browsing session very frequently.
74% of travel apps/sites users surveyed indicated that they have faced situations of what appeared false sense of urgency “frequently”
As in the case of special sales online, many other businesses use the tactics of pressurizing consumers stating that there is limited supply available or the sale is ending as soon as stocks are running out. The survey sought inputs from respondents about instances of false urgency. It asked, “How often have you experienced with travel apps/sites that a false sense of urgency (example: last 2 seats or 2 rooms available at this price) is created to get you to book faster?” This query received 11,071 responses with 74% of travel apps/sites users surveyed indicating that they have faced situations of what appeared to be a false sense of urgency “frequently” and 16% stating “sometimes”. In addition, 6% indicated “never” and 4% did not give a clear response. To sum up, 74% of consumers surveyed who use travel apps/sites say they have frequently experienced being presented with a false sense of urgency to get them to book faster.
67% consumers surveyed say they have frequently experienced hidden charges associated with flight ticket/hotel booking that are not disclosed upfront
Whether travel or hotel bookings, when finalizing at the payment stage, the consumers are suddenly confronted with charges and options that substantially add to the final cost of the ticket which were not displayed upfront. The survey asked respondents, “How often have you experienced with travel apps/sites that there are hidden charges (other than taxes) that are associated with flight ticket/hotel room bookings which are not presented upfront but only later when you are making the payment?” Out of 11,579 consumers who responded to the query 67% of consumers indicated “very frequently”; 15% indicated “sometimes”; and 4% indicated “rarely”. In addition, 7% of respondents indicated “never” have they experienced such a trend when using travel apps/sites while 7% of respondents did not give a clear reply opting for “can’t say”. To sum up, 67% of consumers surveyed who use travel apps/sites say they have frequently experienced hidden charges associated with flight ticket/hotel booking that are disclosed upfront but only when they are at the last step of making payment. The data shows that 82% of those surveyed have noticed this trend frequently or sometimes.
To summarize, around 3 in 4 consumers using travel apps/sites have very frequently experienced surge in air fares/ hotel room tariffs after multiple searches in a session or faced pressure of booking fast when presented with a false sense of urgency. The survey also reveals that 74% of travel apps/sites users have faced situations of what appeared to be a false sense of urgency “frequently”. There is also the issue of hidden charges that add up considerably to the total costs when booking a hotel room or travel ticket. The survey shows that 82% of those surveyed have noticed this trend frequently or sometimes. The Government has prohibited usage of “dark patterns” via the new guidelines, but the real test will be in its enforcement and if the CCPA takes suo moto actions against those violating. LocalCircles will share the findings of this survey with policy makers so that both the Government and the platforms understand dark patterns experienced by consumers and work to make platforms dark pattern free soon.
Survey Demographics
The survey received over 33,000 responses from consumers located in 323 districts of India. 63% respondents were men while 37% respondents were women. 47% respondents were from tier 1, 33% from tier 2 and 20% respondents were from tier 3, 4 and rural districts. The survey was conducted via LocalCircles platform and all participants were validated citizens who had to be registered with LocalCircles to participate in this survey.
About LocalCircles
LocalCircles, India’s leading Community Social Media platform enables citizens and small businesses to escalate issues for policy and enforcement interventions and enables Government to make policies that are citizen and small business centric. LocalCircles is also India’s # 1 pollster on issues of governance, public and consumer interest. More about LocalCircles can be found on https://www.localcircles.com
All content in this report is a copyright of LocalCircles. Any reproduction or redistribution of the graphics or the data therein requires the LocalCircles logo to be carried along with it. In case any violation is observed LocalCircles reserves the right to take legal action.
RV Life in the Digital Age: How Every Kind of Traveler Stays Connected with TravlFi
Life on the road has never looked better—or been more connected. Whether you’re running a business from a campsite, homeschooling from a national park, or just trying to stream your favorite show from the mountains, reliable RV internet is essential. That’s where TravlFi comes in.
Designed for RVers and travelers, TravlFi makes mobile Wi-Fi simple, seamless, and stress-free. With contract-free data plans, access to multiple nationwide networks, and easy setup, TravlFi helps you stay online during your adventures.
Nationwide Coverage Without Commitment
TravlFi was built specifically for travelers who don’t want to be tied down to one carrier, one contract, or one location. Unlike traditional providers, TravlFi devices connect to multiple nationwide networks, automatically finding the strongest signal available, even in places your cell phone might struggle.
With contract-free plans and a flexible, traveler-first approach, TravlFi makes it easy to stay connected on your terms. No roaming charges, no cancellation fees—just reliable coverage when and where you need it most.
For Digital Nomads: Work from Anywhere—Literally
Being a digital nomad means your office might be a forest, a beach, or the passenger seat of your RV. TravlFi’s JourneyGo Hotspot gives remote workers the freedom to stay connected with:
- Strong, secure 4G LTE internet that covers 99% of the U.S.
- Automatic network switching for the best available signal
- Fast upload/download speeds ideal for video calls, cloud files, and remote desktop apps
With TravlFi, you can ditch spotty campground Wi-Fi and confidently hit “Join Meeting” from the edge of a canyon—or your cozy dinette.
For RVing Retirees: Stay Connected, Stay in Control
For retirees embracing the full-time RV lifestyle, staying in touch with loved ones—and managing day-to-day tasks—requires a strong digital connection. TravlFi’s JourneyXTR Router makes it easy to:
- Stream your favorite shows or catch up on news from anywhere
- Bank, budget, and manage healthcare tools securely on the road
- Video chat with grandkids without the frustrating lag
Whether you’re chasing 70-degree weather or crossing off your bucket list destinations, TravlFi lets you enjoy the journey without losing touch with the people and tools that matter most.
For Full-Time Families: Powering School, Streaming, and Sanity
Full-time families on the road juggle everything from Zoom classrooms to streaming entertainment, all while bouncing from park to park. TravlFi’s XTR Pro 5G Router keeps your RV household connected with:
- 5G Wi-Fi support for up to 128 devices
- Enough bandwidth to stream, game, upload, and homeschool simultaneously
- A mobile setup that works for the whole family with 4G/LTE backup
Forget campground internet that crashes at dinner. With high-speed internet for RV families, everyone stays happy, entertained, and on track.
For Weekend Warriors: Coverage When You Want It
You don’t need to be a full-time traveler to benefit from solid RV Wi-Fi. TravlFi is perfect for part-timers who want on demand connectivity without a long-term contract. You’ll get:
- A device that’s ready to go as soon as you power it on
- Monthly data plans that flex with your trip schedule
- Private, secure Wi-Fi wherever your weekend takes you
Just pack it, power it, and connect. No installations, no obligations—just strong internet when you need it.
FAQs
Yes, TravlFi connects to most cellular towers. As you move to different locations TravlFi will automatically switch to the best available tower in that area.
No, TravlFi provides the internet! Thanks to eSIM technology, TravlFi automatically connects the device to the strongest available signal from most cellular towers in its area.
You may pause or cancel your subscription with TravlFi at any time and you won’t pay a reactivation fee when you’re ready to turn your service back on.
TravlFi’s pay as you go data plan costs are straightforward with a one-time activation fee. Monthly payments are made every month, from the date of your initial activation. Each monthly payment covers your next month of service. You may cancel your TravlFi subscription at any time and won’t pay a reactivation fee when you’re ready to turn your service back on.
Yes, TravlFi offers Canada & Mexico Data Plans to ensure your connectivity needs are met even beyond borders.
Freedom on the Road Meets Freedom to Connect
Whether you’re boondocking in the desert, driving along the coast, or parked lakeside soaking in the sun, TravlFi is your travel-tested connection to the digital world. Say goodbye to laggy campground Wi-Fi and hello to the freedom of staying connected—on your terms.
Back in 1921, four ambitious friends—Emanuel “Manny” Rosenfeld, Maurice “Moe” Strauss, Moe Radavitz, and W. Graham “Jack” Jackson—each threw $200 into the pot and cranked open the doors of what would become an American automotive legend: the original Pep Boys store.
Since opening that first location in Philadelphia over 100 years ago, Pep Boys has served communities across the United States. Today at our 800+ locations, our mission remains the same as it was back then: to make quality car care simple, convenient, and accessible to everyone. Make an appointment at your local shop today.
Fueled by Friendship: How Three Guys Changed Car Care Forever
When Pep Boys opened its doors, the golden age of cars was getting underway… and with it, the rise of the great American adventure. The three friends saw an opportunity to help a wave of new vehicle owners care for their cars and trucks. They likely couldn’t have imagined what was to come.
What started as a single store quickly expanded when the shops added auto service bays to help a fast-growing number of car owners care for their vehicles. That was the missing piece of the puzzle, and it helped to fuel America’s love affair with the open road.
A century later, Pep Boys is still rolling strong, proving that a little ingenuity, a lot of elbow grease, and a drive to always do right by your customer can take you a long way.
The Trio That Never Took a Backseat
Many people know Pep Boys because of the iconic, hand-drawn faces that have represented the founders—and cemented their friendship forever—since 1925.
As decades rolled by, these caricatures have changed a bit…but don’t we all? Manny ditched the cigar (modern times call for modern icons), but the heart of the trio stayed the same. Manny’s bespectacled knowledge, Moe’s welcoming smile, and Jack’s friendly wink that says “we know cars” still invite vehicle owners in for expert care.
Under their watchful eyes, the Pep Boys team remains committed to keeping you moving. We’d like to think that they’d be proud to see how we continue to do right by our customers, advising them on how to get their vehicle ready for life’s adventures, where that be a quick drive to the neighborhood grocery store for essentials or an epic, coast-to-coast family roadtrip.
6 Essential Car Tips Before Hitting the Road
Speaking of trips, don’t forget to ensure your vehicle is road-ready before you set out on YOUR next adventure. Use this expert advice from Pep Boys ASE-certified technicians to keep you moving smoothly and safely—in any season of the year.
1. Prioritize Your Oil Change
Fresh oil keeps your engine running efficiently and prevents unnecessary wear—especially over long distances. If you’re due (or even close to it), schedule an oil change before your trip. It’s a quick service that delivers long-term peace of mind.
2. Check Your Tires (and Get the Right Ones)
Tires aren’t just about traction—they’re about safety and performance. At Pep Boys, you can choose from trusted tire brands like Michelin, Goodyear, and Kumho. Plus, you get expert guidance on what fits your vehicle and your budget.
Want your tires to go the distance? Don’t skip tire maintenance like rotations, balancing, and alignments—we can help with all of it.
3. Test Your Brakes Before You Cruise
Squeaks, squeals, or grinding noises are your brakes’ way of waving a red flag. Even if they sound fine, a quick inspection is smart before clocking serious miles. Our Brake Service ensures you stop just as confidently as you go.
4. Make Sure Heating & Cooling Systems Are Ready
Whether you’re battling summer heat or chilly mornings, your car HVAC system needs to perform. Weak airflow? Strange smells? Warm air when it should be cool? Bring it in for a checkup—comfort on the road is key.
5. Don’t Leave Your Battery to Chance
A dead battery is a road trip killer. If yours is over 3 years old, consider a replacement. If it’s newer, a free battery test at Pep Boys can tell you if it’s strong enough for the long haul. If not, our Battery Replacement service has you covered.
6. Pack (and Check) an Emergency Kit
Preparedness is more than peace of mind—it’s a must-have. Load up on essentials like jumper cables, a flashlight, tire repair tools, non-perishable snacks, and first-aid supplies. You may never need it, but if you do, you’ll be glad you have it.
Bonus Tip: Want it all checked off in one stop? Pep Boys can help with every item on this list—from tires and batteries to brakes and A/C service. Book your appointment today and hit the road with confidence.
The most unforgettable adventures don’t begin at the destination—they start in the driveway, with a vehicle that’s road-ready and raring to go. Our expert technicians are here to make sure your car is just as prepared as you are. From oil changes and tire checks to brake service and battery replacement, we’ve got everything you need to drive with confidence. So fuel up, buckle in, and let Pep Boys handle the rest.
When it’s time to decide where the road should lead, don’t forget to explore our exclusive Pep Boys-approved Roadtrips—handpicked routes designed to turn your next drive into something truly epic. Adventure is calling—and we’ll help you answer it.
Travel Apps & Platforms
China flags 68 apps for data violations, including EV, travel and gaming platforms | MLex
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