The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) has announced a draft regulation targeting the development of “digital humans,” establishing guidelines for the use of artificial intelligence in this type of technology. The proposal includes, among other requirements, a mandatory obligation to clearly identify such content, a prohibition on the use of third-party personal data without consent, and restrictions on using these tools to circumvent age verification systems, as well as a ban on features considered potentially addictive for minors.
In the area of user protection, particularly for children and teenagers, the rules also limit interactions that may simulate intimate relationships with minors and impose obligations on providers to mitigate risks associated with the use of these technologies, including mental health impacts.
The initiative is part of a broader governance push covering digital platforms and AI-based services in the country, at the same time that China seeks to accelerate the adoption of the technology across its economy. The government’s new five-year plan envisages the integration of AI across multiple sectors – including manufacturing, healthcare, education, and logistics – with the aim of boosting productivity and reducing external technological dependency. Regulatory advancement thus accompanies the state’s strategy for AI expansion: innovation and control as two sides of the same policy.