China's rules for 'anthropomorphic' AI companion services take effect
China's Interim Measures for the Administration of AI Anthropomorphic Interactive Services, issued 2026-04-10 by the CAC and four other departments, took effect on 2026-07-15 — the first Chinese regulation dedicated to human-like AI companions, requiring crisis intervention, emotional-boundary controls, anti-addiction measures and security assessments for large services.
Key facts
- Issued 2026-04-10 by CAC plus four other departments; effective 2026-07-15
- Mechanisms: extreme-scenario life intervention, emotional boundary control, dynamic anti-addiction
- Security assessment and filing required for new anthropomorphic features, major changes, or services with >1M registered users or >100K monthly active users
- Assessments cover eight areas incl. training data, extreme-situation intervention and protection of minors
- Related: draft Measures on Digital Virtual Human Information Services (consultation closed 2026-05-06); AI content labeling rules in force since 2025-09-01
What happened
These measures extend China's stack of algorithm, deep-synthesis and generative-AI rules to emotionally engaging chatbots and virtual companions.
Why it matters
China is first to impose binding, specific duties on AI companions (addiction, self-harm intervention, minors), an area where Western regulation is still mostly proposals and lawsuits.
Changelog
- 2026-09-29: created
Sources (3)
- pressBird & Bird: China's new regulations on AI anthropomorphic interactive services
- pressWhite & Case: AI Watch — China
- pressCMS: AI laws and regulations in China
id: 2026-07-15-china-anthropomorphic-ai-rules · updated 2026-09-29 · open in the interactive timeline