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Jul 15, 2026 · Archive
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China's AI Chatbot Rules Add Anti-Addiction And Minor Safeguards

China's July 15 measures force a pop-up alert once continuous chat with a companion bot passes two hours.

  • Minors under 14 need a guardian's consent before touching any anthropomorphic AI service, per the rules.
  • No minor may access a bot offering a 'virtual intimate relationship,' regardless of age.
  • Sensitive chat data cannot train AI models without the user's separate, specific consent.

Why it matters: The agency licensing these companion bots is also the one prescribing their addiction warnings.

Cyberspace Administration of China — Interim Measures for the Administration of AI Anthropomorphic Interactive Services ↗ · Jul 15, 20267/15/26 · Updated Jul 15