{"id":737225,"date":"2026-07-05T23:35:15","date_gmt":"2026-07-05T20:35:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/chinas-ai-companion-rules-force-doubao-qwen-shutdowns\/"},"modified":"2026-07-05T23:35:15","modified_gmt":"2026-07-05T20:35:15","slug":"chinas-ai-companion-rules-force-doubao-qwen-shutdowns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/chinas-ai-companion-rules-force-doubao-qwen-shutdowns\/","title":{"rendered":"China&#8217;s AI companion rules force Doubao, Qwen shutdowns"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_88 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6ab4a82ae1842\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6ab4a82ae1842\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/chinas-ai-companion-rules-force-doubao-qwen-shutdowns\/#TLDR\" >TL;DR<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/chinas-ai-companion-rules-force-doubao-qwen-shutdowns\/#The_new_rules\" >The new rules<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/chinas-ai-companion-rules-force-doubao-qwen-shutdowns\/#Companions_out_workers_in\" >Companions out, workers in<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<div id=\"article-main-content\">\n<p><em><\/p>\n<div class=\"postContent-tldr\">\n<h4 class=\"postContent-offsetTitle\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"TLDR\"><\/span>TL;DR<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>ByteDance\u2019s Doubao and Alibaba\u2019s Qwen are disabling custom AI agent features ahead of China\u2019s Interim Measures on anthropomorphic AI interaction services, effective 15 July. The rules target bots offering sustained emotional interaction while sparing workplace and productivity agents. Tencent pulled a similar Yuanbao feature in June, and users are protesting the loss of chat histories.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/em><\/p>\n<p>ByteDance\u2019s Doubao and Alibaba\u2019s Qwen, two of China\u2019s biggest consumer AI <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">app<\/a>s, are disabling their customised agent features,\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.scmp.com\/tech\/big-tech\/article\/3359482\/bytedance-and-alibaba-disable-humanlike-ai-custom-agents-new-rules-loom\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">the South China Morning Post reports<\/a>. The move comes days before Beijing\u2019s new rules on humanlike AI interaction services take effect on 15 July.<\/p>\n<p>Doubao told users on Friday that its agent feature would go offline on 15 July, citing product function adjustments. Related data will stop being viewable or recoverable inside the app after 15 October.<\/p>\n<p>Qwen followed on Saturday, saying humanlike interactive agents and user-created agents would be disabled on 10 July, with broader agent functions offline by 15 July. Users will lose access to agent settings and their previous conversations.<\/p>\n<div class=\"inarticle-wrapper latest channel-cta hs-embed-tnw\">\n<div id=\"hs-embed-tnw\" class=\"channel-cta-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"channel-cta-img\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"js-lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/media.thenextweb.com\/hardfork-2018\/uploads\/visuals\/tnw-newsletter.png\"\/><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.thenextweb.com\/hardfork-2018\/uploads\/visuals\/tnw-newsletter.png\"\/><\/p>\n<div class=\"channel-cta-input\">\n<p class=\"channel-cta-title\">The \ud83d\udc9c of EU tech<\/p>\n<p class=\"channel-cta-tagline\">The latest rumblings from the EU tech scene, a story from our wise ol&#8217; founder Boris, and some questionable AI art. It&#8217;s free, every week, in your inbox. Sign up now!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Both apps let users build named assistants, tutors, role-playing characters, or companions with fixed personas and speaking styles. Tencent removed a similar feature from its Yuanbao assistant in June, and\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.globaltimes.cn\/page\/202607\/1365159.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Chinese state media confirms<\/a>\u00a0the shutdowns are about regulatory compliance.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_new_rules\"><\/span>The new rules<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The Interim Measures for AI Anthropomorphic Interaction Services were\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hoganlovells.com\/en\/publications\/chinas-interim-measures-for-the-administration-of-anthropomorphic-ai-interaction-services\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">issued in April<\/a>\u00a0by the Cyberspace Administration of China and four other agencies. They cover services that simulate human personality traits, thinking patterns, and communication styles to provide sustained emotional interaction.<\/p>\n<p>Customer service bots, knowledge Q&amp;A, workplace assistants, and education and research tools are excluded, provided they avoid sustained emotional interaction. The measures cite risks spanning extremist content, privacy leaks, harm to mental health, and addiction, and\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.twobirds.com\/en\/insights\/2026\/china\/china's-new-regulations-on-ai-anthropomorphic-interactive-services\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">require anti-addiction systems and identity checks for minors<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCurrent agents are not yet mature,\u201d Pan Helin, a member of an expert committee at China\u2019s Ministry of Industry and Information <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/technology\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"4\" title=\"Technology\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Technology<\/a>, told the SCMP. He said the policy prioritises safety, practical use, and standardisation.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Companions_out_workers_in\"><\/span>Companions out, workers in<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Beijing is not against agents as such. Regulators issued guidance in May on the managed development of AI agents, and China released\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.geopolitechs.org\/p\/chinas-cybersecurity-standard-on\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">national standards in June<\/a>\u00a0covering agent identity, discovery, interaction, and tool use.<\/p>\n<p>The pattern suggests China wants agents as productivity infrastructure while squeezing companion bots that form quasi-<a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/social-mediaa\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"1\" title=\"Social Media\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">social<\/a> bonds with users. Researchers have long documented the risks of such bonds, from\u00a0AI girlfriends\u2019 hunger for personal data\u00a0to what Wharton academics call\u00a0cognitive surrender.<\/p>\n<p>Platforms outside China face growing pressure over emotionally engaging bots too, with\u00a0Meta posing as teens to test rival chatbots\u00a0on sensitive topics. Beijing has simply chosen to regulate first and let the products catch up.<\/p>\n<p>The timing stings for both companies, which are pouring resources into AI, from\u00a0Alibaba\u2019s homegrown accelerator chips\u00a0to Doubao\u2019s push to become China\u2019s default assistant. It also lands as Beijing tightens control of the sector in other ways, including\u00a0plans to vet US investment in its top AI firms.<\/p>\n<p>Users mourned the shutdowns openly, with one Weibo poster calling the agents long-standing emotional support and lamenting the lack of any easy way to export chat histories. In China\u2019s agent economy, the companions go first and the workers stay.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMN63nwsw68G3Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more like this article, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/technology\/\" target=\"_blank\" >Technology category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/thenextweb.com\/news\/china-humanlike-ai-agent-rules\" target=\"_blank\" >Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>TL;DR ByteDance\u2019s Doubao and Alibaba\u2019s Qwen are disabling custom AI agent features ahead of China\u2019s Interim Measures on anthropomorphic AI interaction services, effective 15 July. The rules target bots offering sustained emotional interaction while sparing workplace and productivity agents. Tencent pulled a similar Yuanbao feature in June, and users are protesting the loss of chat&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":737226,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/media.thenextweb.com\/2026\/06\/China-flag.avif","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-737225","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/737225","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=737225"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/737225\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/737226"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=737225"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=737225"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=737225"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}