China tightens governance of AI agents, companions, and synthetic content

CAC’s AI agent rules took effect July 15, 2026, with three-tier authorization requirements. ByteDance, Alibaba, and Tencent disabled customizable AI companion features after user backlash and official concern about emotional dependence, demographic effects, and broader social risks. Rules increasingly emphasize provenance, labeling, consent, traceability, validation, and platform accountability.