# China AI Regulations 2023

The Interim Measures for the Management of Generative AI Services are Chinese regulations effective 15 August 2023, governing public-facing generative AI to balance development with security, innovation, and social stability.

The Interim Measures for the Management of Generative AI Services (Chinese: 生成式人工智能服务管理暂行办法; pinyin: Shēngchéng shì réngōng zhìnéng fúwù guǎnlǐ zànxíng bànfǎ) are a set of rules introduced by China to regulate public-facing generative artificial intelligence within the country. Issued by the Cyberspace Administration of China alongside six other national regulators, the measures took effect on 15 August 2023)Skip. They represent one of the first comprehensive national frameworks for [generative AI](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/generative-ai), aiming to foster innovation while addressing risks such as national security, social stability, and individual rights. The regulations apply to services offered to the domestic public, exempting internal corporate and research uses, and emphasize a principle of "inclusive prudence" with classified supervision.

The measures were jointly issued by the Cyberspace Administration of China, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Public Security, and the National Radio and Television Administration. They consist of 24 articles organized into five sections, covering general provisions, technology development and governance, service specifications, supervision and legal liability, and supplementary provisions.

## Background and Purpose

The rise of [large language models](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/large-language-model) and [generative AI](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/generative-ai) systems in the early 2020s prompted governments worldwide to consider new regulatory approaches. China's measures were designed to balance the promotion of technological advancement with the need to protect national security and public interests. The stated objectives include encouraging the healthy development and regulated usage of generative AI, safeguarding societal interests, and upholding citizens' legal rights. The regulatory philosophy emphasizes equal emphasis on development and security, promoting innovation alongside the rule of law, and adopting a classified, inclusive approach to supervision.

## Scope and Exemptions

Article 2 defines the scope of the measures, applying to generative AI services that are provided to the public within the People's Republic of China. Services used internally by companies, research institutions, and other organizations that do not serve the domestic public are explicitly exempted. This exemption aims to avoid stifling internal innovation while focusing regulatory oversight on consumer-facing applications. The measures do not apply to services developed abroad unless they are offered to the Chinese public.

## Principles and Content Requirements

Article 3 sets out guiding principles, including the simultaneous pursuit of development and security, the encouragement of innovation, and adherence to the rule of law. Article 4 imposes content requirements on generative AI services: they must comply with relevant laws and respect social morality, including the Core Socialist Values. Providers must ensure that generated content does not promote the overthrow of the socialist system, harm national security, undermine social stability, or contain discrimination, terrorism, extremism, violence, obscenity, or other false and harmful information prohibited by law. The measures also require that models be designed and trained to avoid discrimination and algorithmic bias, respect intellectual property rights and business ethics, and avoid endangering physical and mental health. Transparency and accuracy of services must be improved through effective measures.

## Technology Development and Governance

Articles 5 and 6 encourage innovation in generative AI across industries, supporting collaboration, data and application development, independent innovation in core technologies, infrastructure development, and data resource platforms. They promote international cooperation, sharing of computing resources, expansion of high-quality public training data, and the adoption of secure chips and resources. Article 7 mandates that providers ensure training data is high-quality, accurate, diverse, and legitimately sourced without infringing intellectual property rights. If personal information is used, user consent is required. Article 8 requires providers to establish clear data labeling rules, including quality assessment, sampling verification, personnel training, and supervision of labeling work.

## Service Specifications

Article 9 legally treats providers as producers of online content and processors of personal data, requiring them to sign service agreements with users that define rights and obligations. Article 10 addresses protection of minors, mandating effective measures to prevent excessive use and requiring providers to clarify appropriate usage. Article 11 obligates providers to protect user privacy, minimize data collection and retention, and avoid illegally sharing user information. Providers must accept user requests to review, copy, modify, or delete personal data. Article 12 requires labeling of synthesized pictures, videos, and other generated content to inform users. Article 13 requires stable and continuous service for normal usage. Article 14 obligates providers to promptly address illegal content or misuse, including halting generation, retraining models, warning users, and reporting to authorities. Article 15 mandates complaint and reporting mechanisms for public grievances.

## Supervision, Inspection, and Liability

Articles 16 through 21 outline the supervisory framework. Article 16 assigns oversight roles to cybersecurity, technology, industry, education, public security, and other relevant government bodies. Article 17 requires security assessments for services with public opinion influence, as well as algorithm filing procedures. Article 18 allows users to complain to authorities about non-compliant services. Article 19 permits officials to inspect providers, who must cooperate and provide transparency. Article 20 addresses foreign services that violate the measures, allowing the government to take action. Article 21 defines the authorities that may punish violators, with crimes investigated according to law.

## Key Terms and Effective Date

Article 22 defines key terms such as generative AI, service providers, and service users. Article 23 requires providers to obtain relevant licenses where legally mandated. Article 24 establishes the effective date of 15 August 2023. The measures have been seen as a model for other jurisdictions attempting to regulate [artificial intelligence](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/artificial-intelligence), balancing innovation with societal protection.

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Source: https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/china-ai-regulations-2023
License: CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
Last updated: 2026-09-12T16:23:25.244813+00:00