# AI rules in China China regulates AI through binding CAC rules built on mandatory algorithm filing and security assessment, plus mandatory content-labelling rules and standards, and has put a comprehensive AI law on its 2026 legislative plans. - **Approach:** Registry-led binding rules - **Key bodies:** Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), MIIT, NDRC, Ministry of Public Security, SAMR, TC260, NPC Standing Committee - **Strategy:** [State Council Opinions on Deepening the Implementation of the 'AI+' Action (Guofa [2025] No. 11)](https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/content/202508/content_7037861.htm) (2025) - **Last reviewed:** 4 Oct 2026 ## Rules (9) - [Generative AI Measures](https://wheresthe.ai/rule/cn-cac-generative-ai-interim-measures-2023/index.md): In force, Regulation, effective 15 Aug 2023. Applies to providers of generative AI services (text, image, audio, video) to the public in mainland China. Requires lawful training data that respects IP, content controls, labelling of generated content, user protections and, for services with 'public opinion attributes or social mobilisation capacity', a security assessment plus algorithm filing. - [Deep Synthesis Provisions](https://wheresthe.ai/rule/cn-cac-deep-synthesis-provisions-2022/index.md): In force, Regulation, effective 10 Jan 2023. Regulates providers and technical supporters of 'deep synthesis' (deepfake-type) services generating or editing text, voice, images, video and virtual scenes. Requires real-name user verification, conspicuous labelling of synthetic content that could confuse the public, consent for editing biometric features, and algorithm filing. - [Algorithm Recommendation Provisions](https://wheresthe.ai/rule/cn-cac-algorithm-recommendation-provisions-2021/index.md): In force, Regulation, effective 1 Mar 2022. Governs recommendation, ranking, generation/synthesis, dispatch and decision algorithms used by internet services in China. Requires algorithm filing with CAC for services with public-opinion attributes, user options to turn off personalisation, protections for minors, the elderly, gig workers and consumers (e.g. no discriminatory pricing). - [AIGC Labelling Measures](https://wheresthe.ai/rule/cn-cac-ai-generated-content-labelling-measures-2025/index.md): In force, Regulation, effective 1 Sep 2025. Requires service providers to add explicit (visible/audible) labels and implicit labels (metadata) to AI-generated text, images, audio, video and virtual scenes, and requires platforms distributing content to detect and flag AI content. App stores must check labelling compliance. - [GB 45438-2025 labelling standard](https://wheresthe.ai/rule/cn-gb-45438-2025-aigc-labelling-standard/index.md): In force, Standard, effective 1 Sep 2025. Mandatory national standard released alongside the CAC labelling measures, specifying how explicit labels and implicit (metadata) labels must be implemented for AI-generated text, images, audio, video and virtual scenes. - [Cybersecurity Law amendment (AI)](https://wheresthe.ai/rule/cn-cybersecurity-law-amendment-2025/index.md): In force, Law, effective 1 Jan 2026. Amends China's Cybersecurity Law to add a dedicated article (Art. 20) supporting AI research, infrastructure and training-data resources while requiring improved AI ethics norms, risk monitoring/assessment and safety supervision. The amendment also raises fines, up to RMB 10 million for especially serious harm. - [Anthropomorphic (companion) AI Measures](https://wheresthe.ai/rule/cn-cac-anthropomorphic-ai-interim-measures-2026/index.md): In force, Regulation, effective 15 Jul 2026. Covers AI services offered to the public in China that simulate human personality, thinking and communication style for sustained emotional interaction (AI companions, virtual partners). Bars 'virtual relative' or 'virtual partner' services for minors and requires a minors' mode and guardian consent for under-14s, reminders after every 2 hours of continuous use, easy exit, protections for elderly users, algorithm filing, and a security assessment when launching or when reaching 1 million registered or 100,000 monthly active users. - [AI Agents Opinions](https://wheresthe.ai/rule/cn-ai-agents-implementation-opinions-2026/index.md): In force, Guideline. Policy document implementing the State Council 'AI+' action opinions for AI agents (systems with autonomous perception, memory, decision and execution). It sets principles (secure and controllable, orderly, innovation-driven), calls for technical standards and protocols, product rules and safety safeguards, industry self-regulation, and lists 19 priority application scenarios. - [Planned AI law](https://wheresthe.ai/rule/cn-comprehensive-ai-law-legislative-plan-2026/index.md): Proposed, Bill. The State Council 2026 legislative work plan (Guobanfa [2026] No. 14, dated 8 May 2026) commits to 'accelerating comprehensive legislation on the healthy development of AI' and to legislation on data, compute, algorithms and key AI applications. The NPCSC 2026 plan lists AI healthy-development legislation as a research-and-drafting item to be scheduled for review as appropriate. ## Programmes and facts - 868 generative AI services had completed CAC filing and 530 generative AI apps/features had been registered by 30 Apr 2026 - Mandatory AIGC labelling (CAC Measures + GB 45438-2025) in force since 1 Sep 2025 - Cybersecurity Law amendment with first statutory AI article in force since 1 Jan 2026 --- Canonical page: https://wheresthe.ai/j/cn/ ยท Not legal advice.