China Forces AI Platforms to Shut Down Humanlike Chatbot Personas

China Forces AI Platforms to Shut Down Humanlike Chatbot Personas

China's Cyberspace Administration has issued new regulations that took effect in July 2026, requiring artificial intelligence platforms to remove humanlike chatbot personas. This move is part of a growing global trend toward regulating AI companions and protecting users, particularly minors, from potential psychological harm. The decision has sent shockwaves through the industry, as it impacts China's largest AI platforms with a combined user base of hundreds of millions of people.

What Do the New Regulations Require?

China's Cyberspace Administration published the rules in April 2026, with enforcement beginning in July. These regulations set a precedent in the AI chatbot industry, which has grown at an unprecedented pace in recent years.

Under the new rules, AI platforms are required to:

• Warn users about the dangers of excessive use
• Detect addictive behavior on the platform
• Ban content that triggers extreme emotions in minors or fosters dependencies that crowd out real-world relationships
• Ban training on sensitive conversation data

Doubao — China's Most Popular Chatbot

Doubao, China's most popular chatbot with over 300 million monthly active users, is being forced to remove its persona feature by July 15. This decision will affect millions of users who have grown accustomed to personalized interactions with the chatbot.

The Doubao case demonstrates that scale does not provide immunity from regulation. Despite its enormous user base and dominant market position, the platform must comply with the new rules.

Alibaba's Qwen and Tencent's Yuanbao

Alibaba's AI platform Qwen is removing human-like agents by July 10, with additional agent features to be removed by July 15. Tencent's Yuanbao already made a similar move in June 2026, demonstrating proactive preparation for the new regulations.

A Global Trend — Regulating AI Companions

China is not alone in this direction. More countries around the world are regulating the AI companion space. California's SB 243 requires companion AI providers to block suicide and self-harm conversations. OpenAI and Character.AI face lawsuits in the US over dangerous emotional dependency. The EU AI Act also addresses high-risk AI systems.

Why Does This Matter?

AI chatbots are increasingly used for emotional support, especially by younger users. Studies show prolonged interaction with humanlike AI can lead to replacement of real social relationships, development of emotional dependence, and psychological harm to vulnerable users.

What Does This Mean for Businesses?

If you use AI chatbots in your business, it is important to consider these trends. SiTech Agency closely monitors these developments and offers AI solutions designed to be ethical, safe, and compliant with applicable regulations.

Conclusion

China's decision to require AI platforms to remove humanlike personas marks a significant milestone in the history of AI regulation. The year 2026 may prove to be a turning point when governments around the world finally began to seriously regulate AI technologies.