China AI Anthropomorphism Rules Take Effect: Doubao and Qwen Shut Down Companion Features
China's Interim Measures for the Administration of AI Anthropomorphic Interactive Services, co-issued by the CAC and four partner agencies on April 10, came into force on July 15. The rules prohibit AI services from forming persistent emotional-companion relationships without strict identity and parental-consent requirements. ByteDance's Doubao (345M MAU) and Alibaba's Qwen both disabled custom AI-companion and persona-building features overnight. Doubao users retain read-only data access until October 15; Qwen deleted agent configurations immediately with no migration path. Productivity and workplace agents were exempted.
Why it matters
First major enforcement action under China's AI anthropomorphism rules, immediately affecting hundreds of millions of users. Sets a compliance floor for every Chinese lab with consumer-facing agents, and signals Beijing's intent to regulate emotional-AI — a segment that drove much of Doubao's engagement growth.
Importance: 3/5
First enforcement of China's AI anthropomorphism rules; hundreds of millions of affected users; reported by Bloomberg, TechNode, SCMP