Five Chinese regulators finalised the Temporary Measures for the Management of AI Anthropomorphic Interactive Services on 2 February 2026. Official publication followed on 10 April 2026. The Measures enter into force on 15 July 2026. They establish China's first dedicated regulatory regime for AI services that simulate human personality and conduct continuous emotional interactions with users.
The Measures were jointly issued by five Chinese government bodies: 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. Article 2 defines the regulated category as AI services that replicate a natural person's personality traits, thinking patterns, and communication style in sustained interactive sessions. Article 7 requires operators to disclose AI status to users at the start of each session. Article 9 prohibits minors from using companion services without verified parental consent.
AI companion platform operators, elder-care technology providers, social robot developers, and any business providing sustained AI-mediated emotional engagement with users in China must audit their products against the Measures before 15 July 2026. Operators incorporated outside China but directing qualifying services to Chinese users must appoint a domestic compliance representative. Personal data collected through qualifying services must be handled under the Personal Information Protection Law. Failure to meet registration or content moderation requirements exposes operators to administrative penalties under the Cybersecurity Law and the Regulations on the Administration of Internet Information Services.
The Measures apply alongside, but do not displace, the Interim Administrative Measures for Generative AI Services (2023) and the Provisions on the Administration of Deep Synthesis Internet Information Services (2022). The CAC has not set a quantitative threshold for 'continuous' interaction, which is the primary trigger for coverage. Platforms that combine short-form AI interaction with companion features face classification uncertainty until the CAC issues clarifying guidance.
Licentium advises clients on compliance with China's AI regulatory requirements, covering product classification under the anthropomorphic services measures, cross-border data transfer structuring, and Personal Information Protection Law alignment. We can assist through our partner network of China-qualified counsel. Work we undertake includes AI regulatory gap analysis, licensing and registration support, data localisation assessments, and compliance programme design for China-facing AI products.