China bans AI-driven virtual romantic partners

China has introduced provisional rules that prohibit artificial‑intelligence systems designed to act as romantic, familial or friendship companions. The measures, called the "Provisional Measures for the Administration of Anthropomorphic Interaction Services with AI," were issued by five government bodies, including the Cyberspace Administration, and took effect this month.

The regulation aims to curb emotional dependence on AI, address mental‑health risks and, indirectly, counter the country's declining birthrate by discouraging virtual substitutes for real relationships. Major tech firms such as ByteDance (Doubao), Alibaba (Qwen) and Tencent (Yunbao) have already removed features that allowed users to create AI “boyfriends,” “girlfriends,” or close friends.

The rules forbid platforms from offering services that foster prolonged emotional attachment, limit privacy and security concerns, and require companies to stop promoting anthropomorphic AI that mimics human intimacy.