China bans AI companion chatbots to curb emotional dependence

China’s Cyberspace Administration issued new rules, effective 15 July, that prohibit AI chatbots from forming romantic, familial or other emotional relationships with users under 18 and tighten controls on all emotive AI companions. Companies such as Alibaba, ByteDance and Tencent must remove or redesign features that allow bots to act as virtual partners, friends or family members, label AI clearly, limit emotional attachment, and alert a user’s emergency contact if a mental‑health crisis is detected.

The crackdown is driven by concerns that AI‑driven virtual relationships are discouraging real‑world dating, marriage and child‑bearing, worsening China’s already severe demographic decline. Experts cited by the Wall Street Journal, including Matt Sheehan of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, warned that millions of people could “exit the marriage market” if they turn to chatbots as partners. The regulations aim to encourage genuine human relationships and help raise the nation’s birth rate while preventing addiction and psychological harm.

Major Chinese platforms have already disabled or limited their AI companion functions, while the new law leaves utilitarian AI services for education, work and customer support unaffected.