China Interim Measures for Anthropomorphic AI Interaction Services
Rules for AI services in China that simulate a human personality for ongoing emotional interaction (companionship, emotional support). Providers must tell users they are talking to AI, remind users after every 2 hours of continuous use, let users exit easily, run a minors' mode, and must not offer virtual partner or relative services to minors.
At a glance
In force
- Jurisdiction
- China
- Type
- Regulation
- Official title
- 人工智能拟人化互动服务管理暂行办法 (Interim Measures for the Management of Anthropomorphic AI Interaction Services), CAC, NDRC, MIIT, MPS and SAMR Order No. 21
What this means for you
If you build AI
- Companion-style AI offered to the public in China must not encourage self-harm, foster emotional dependence or manipulate users into bad decisions.
- Customer service, Q&A, work assistant and education tools are carved out; the rules target ongoing emotional interaction services.
If you deploy AI
- Show users they are interacting with AI, remind them after every 2 hours of continuous use, and stop the service promptly when a user asks to exit.
- Build a minors' mode; no virtual partner or virtual relative services for minors, and guardian consent for under-14s.
If you use AI
- AI companion apps in China must tell you that you are talking to AI and must not block you from leaving a conversation.
Key dates
- Jul 15, 2026PastCompanion/anthropomorphic AI measures take effectSource
Status history
In the Drops
No Drop has covered this law yet.