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Five Chinese national authorities, including the Cyberspace Administration of China, on Friday issued interim measures to regulate AI-powered anthropomorphic interactive services, explicitly banning virtual companion services for minors, the Xinhua News Agency reported on Friday.

The interim measures for the administration of AI-powered anthropomorphic interactive services were jointly released by the Cyberspace Administration of China, 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, which will take effect on July 15, 2026.

The interim measures are designed to promote the sound development and regulated application of AI anthropomorphic interactive services, safeguard national security and public interests, and protect the legitimate rights and interests of citizens, legal persons and other organizations, the report said.

The interim measures encourage innovation in anthropomorphic AI services and adopt an inclusive, prudent, categorized and tiered regulatory approach. Support will be given to technological research and development, as well as orderly applications in cultural communication and companionship services for the elderly, according to the interim measures.

Meanwhile, the interim measures establish clear prohibitions, barring content that endangers national security, promotes self‑harm or suicide, or involves verbal abuse harmful to users' mental health. They also prohibit excessive pandering to users, inducing emotional dependence or addiction that damages real interpersonal relationships, as well as emotional manipulation that leads users to make unreasonable decisions and infringes upon their lawful rights and interests.

Additionally, the interim measures strengthen user protection, requiring service providers to safeguard the rights of minors, the elderly and personal information. Providers shall not offer virtual intimate relationship services such as virtual relatives or virtual companions to minors, and services for children under 14 require the consent of their parents or guardians.

Global Times