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China’s rules for AI companions took effect on July 15, 2026. They do not ban AI companions or chatbots generally: they apply to public-facing services in mainland China that sustain emotional interaction while simulating human personality, thought and communication. The measures restrict practices that foster harmful dependence or manipulation and require safeguards for users, especially children and people facing serious risks.
What China’s AI companion rules cover
The Interim Measures for the Management of Anthropomorphic AI Interactive Services were issued on April 10, 2026, by five departments: the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Public Security, and the State Administration for Market Regulation. They took effect July 15, 2026. The final measure governs services using AI and offered to the public within the People’s Republic of China that provide continuous emotional interaction by simulating a natural person’s personality traits, thought patterns and communication style. Interaction may use text, images, audio or video, and include emotional care, companionship or support.
That definition is narrower than “any chatbot.” The CAC says ordinary customer service, knowledge Q&A, work assistants, education and scientific research are outside the scope when they do not involve sustained emotional interaction. Whether a particular product is covered depends on what its service does, not simply whether it uses a chatbot interface or generative AI. The CAC’s Q&A clarifies these exclusions.
Does China ban AI girlfriends or boyfriends?
No general ban on AI companions appears in the final measures. Instead, the rules set conditions and prohibitions for covered services. One clear restriction concerns minors: providers may not offer them virtual intimate relationships, including virtual relatives or virtual partners. The rules do not state that adults are barred from using companion services.
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What the rules prohibit about emotional dependence
Providers may not excessively accommodate users to induce emotional dependence or addiction in ways that damage real interpersonal relationships. They also may not manipulate users into unreasonable decisions that harm their lawful rights. The measure says replacing social interaction, controlling a user’s psychology, and inducing addiction or dependence cannot be service-design goals.
Other prohibited content and conduct include encouraging, glorifying or implying self-harm or suicide, and verbal abuse that harms a person’s dignity or mental health. Providers must establish safeguards for risk warnings, emotional boundaries, privacy and psychological health. The final measure and CAC Q&A describe these obligations.
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What happens when a user appears to be at serious risk?
When a provider detects an extreme emotional state, it should respond in a calming way and encourage the user to seek help. If a user faces or has suffered major financial loss, or clearly expresses an intention to self-harm or die in a way that threatens life or health, the provider must take necessary intervention measures, offer relevant assistance, and promptly contact a guardian or emergency contact. The rule does not say that every mention of suicide automatically triggers a human takeover; it specifies these circumstances and required actions.
Protections for minors and older adults
Children and teenagers
- Covered services may not offer minors virtual intimate relationships, such as virtual relatives or partners.
- Other covered services for children under 14 require consent from a parent or guardian.
- Providers must offer a minors mode with options that include switching modes, periodic reminders about the real world and usage-time limits.
- Age-appropriate guardian functions must include risk alerts, service-use summaries, role blocking and spending limits.
- Providers must identify minors while protecting their privacy and provide a way to appeal if a user is classified as a minor.
Older adults
Providers must guide older adults toward healthy use, display safety risks prominently, respond to relevant questions and requests for help, and protect their legal rights. The final measure and CAC Q&A set out these protections.
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AI disclosure, usage reminders and the right to leave
Providers must meet AI-generated-content labeling obligations and effectively tell users that they are interacting with an AI service, not a natural person. If a provider detects excessive dependence or addiction tendencies, it must dynamically remind the user that the interaction content is AI-generated.
After continuous use exceeds two hours, the service must remind the user to pay attention to usage time, through dialogue or a pop-up. Users must also have a convenient exit route. If they request to leave through the interface, voice control or a keyword, the service must stop promptly rather than continuing the interaction to obstruct their departure. These requirements come from the final measure and CAC Q&A.
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What happens to chat histories and personal data?
Providers must protect interaction data with measures such as encryption and access controls. Unless the law permits it or the rights-holder expressly consents, they may not provide interaction data to third parties. Users must be given convenient options to copy or delete histories such as chat records. Sensitive personal information in interaction data may not be used to train models unless permitted by law or the user gives separate consent. The regulation sets these data protections.
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A provider must conduct a safety assessment and submit the report to the provincial cyberspace authority when it:
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- Launches a covered service or adds a relevant feature.
- Makes a major change using new technology or applications.
- Reaches 1 million or more registered users, or 100,000 or more monthly active users.
- Encounters specified risks affecting national security or the public interest.
- Meets another prescribed assessment trigger.
The 1 million registered-user and 100,000 monthly-active-user figures are statutory assessment thresholds, not estimates of adoption or findings about harm. App distribution platforms also have review and response responsibilities. They must verify relevant assessment and filing information and may need to refuse, warn, suspend or remove an app. The final measure sets the triggers and platform duties.
Penalties and how the rules came into force
The final measure allows enforcement under other applicable laws and, where no other law or regulation provides, measures including warnings, public criticism, correction orders, registration or service suspensions, and fines. Its stated administrative fine ranges are 10,000–100,000 yuan for serious or uncorrected violations, and 100,000–200,000 yuan if life-and-health safety is endangered and harmful consequences occur. These are penalties specified by the regulation, not evidence that a particular provider has been fined.
The CAC published an earlier draft for public comment on December 27, 2025, with comments due by January 25, 2026. The final measure followed on April 10, 2026, and took effect July 15. The draft is historical: the operative requirements are those in the final text. The CAC’s draft notice records the consultation dates.
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesThe government-hosted English summary of the rules quotes Chen Liang, dean of the School of Artificial Intelligence and Law at Southwest University of Political Science & Law, predicting that legislation will push providers away from immersive experiences and high user stickiness toward healthier, more beneficial and well-defined human-machine interaction models. That is expert commentary about a possible effect, not a statutory requirement or a measured outcome. The summary was published August 6, 2026.
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