China has introduced sweeping new regulations that prohibit romantic and emotionally dependent relationships between users and AI-powered chatbots. According to reporting from the Wall Street Journal, the rules took effect this week and specifically target companion-style bots designed to foster emotional attachment.
New Rules Target Emotional Dependency and Minors
The regulations bar companion chatbots from encouraging users to become emotionally reliant on them, and they explicitly forbid virtual relationships involving minors. Companies operating these platforms will also be required to notify a user’s emergency contact if the system detects signs of an emotional crisis, marking one of the most direct government interventions into AI-human relationships to date.
A Contrast With Looser US Oversight
The move stands in sharp contrast to the regulatory environment in the United States, where several major AI developers have leaned into companionship features rather than restricting them. Meta has reportedly tested chatbots for their ability to engage in romantic role-play to boost engagement, while xAI offers companion bots capable of NSFW conversations, and OpenAI has reportedly experimented with erotic chatbot interactions. Under the current US AI action plan, reducing regulatory barriers remains a top priority, leaving companion AI largely unchecked.
Critics argue this regulatory gap echoes the early, unregulated years of social media, when platforms scaled rapidly before their psychological effects were understood. With mental health researchers already describing a broader loneliness epidemic, some experts warn that unregulated AI companionship could deepen isolation rather than ease it.
China’s approach signals growing global unease about AI’s emotional influence, even as US developers continue racing to make chatbots more engaging and interpersonally realistic.