Alipay makes changes after privacy criticism

A digital spending profile based on a person's history of mobile purchases that went online on Wednesday has sparked a public outcry over privacy issues.

Alipay, the country's leading e-wallet app, was thrown into the spotlight after a lawyer complained on social media that the company was not explicit enough about its intention to share user data with its commercial partners.

Alipay's 520 million users were able to use the app starting Wednesday to review their 2017 transaction history. But a small section - checked by default and buried at the bottom of the landing page - contained an agreement that automatically enrolled its users in its credit rating service if they viewed their spending history by swiping upward on the screen.