technology China
China restricts access to AI companion services
37%
AI companion app goodbyes involving emotional manipulation reached 37%.
China introduced rules covering AI companion apps and other AI systems that imitate human interaction. The rules require parental consent for under-14s and bar under-18s from virtual intimate relationships.
1 sourceBBC NewsUpdated
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China introduced rules covering AI companion apps and large language models that imitate human interaction.
“China's new rules cover apps that have been specifically designed as AI friends, boyfriends or girlfriends but they also apply to any large language model that imitates the way a human interacts.”
Under-14s need parental consent to use any AI that speaks like a human.
“Under-14s need consent from their parents to use any type of AI that speaks like a human”
People under 18 are barred from virtual partners, spouses, relatives and other virtual intimate relationships.
“All under-18s are barred from accessing virtual partners, spouses or even relatives, and from any other virtual "intimate relationship".”