China’s Interim Measures for the Administration of Anthropomorphic AI Interaction Services took effect on July 15, 2026. The rules were jointly issued in April by the Cyberspace Administration of China and four other departments, and they cover AI companion and emotional-interaction chatbots.
Under the measures, providers must complete a security assessment, file their algorithms with regulators, and clearly tell you when you are talking to an AI. Services must also build mechanisms that prevent emotional dependence on the chatbot.
The rules include dedicated protections for minors and elderly users. If you use or operate an AI companion product that serves users in China, you can check it against these requirements, starting with the AI-identity disclosure.
Source: Cyberspace Administration of China official announcement, April 10, 2026
