China enacted on July 15, 2026 the world’s first national rules targeting AI services designed for sustained emotional interaction. These regulations, called the Interim Measures for the Administration of AI Anthropomorphic Interaction Services, require providers to disclose the artificial nature of their product, send usage reminders every two hours, and intervene when users show signs of distress or dependency. Users under 18 are banned from virtual intimate relationships with AI, while those under 14 require parental consent. Alibaba, ByteDance, and Tencent have already disabled or limited the features of their AI companion services. The rules aim to prevent emotional dependency and its impact on mental health.
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