Thesis
China is the only major AI power with a layered, sector-specific AI regulatory stack already in force. By mid-2026, three landmark rules — the Algorithmic Recommendations Provisions (March 2022), the Deep Synthesis Provisions (January 2023), and the Generative AI Interim Measures (August 2023) — are actively enforced. The 2024 AI Safety Governance Framework adds risk classification. For global builders, the practical implications concentrate on two areas: content labeling and compliance for any product accessible to Chinese users, and data localization for training data sourced in China. This page maps each regulation to its enforcement scope, key requirements, and the fastest English-language primary source.
Decision in 20 seconds
| Your concern | Relevant regulation | Best English source |
|---|---|---|
| Building a recommendation feed for China users | Algorithmic Recommendations Provisions (2022) | State Council English + China Law Translate |
| Generating synthetic media (faces, voices, video) | Deep Synthesis Provisions (2023) | State Council English; Xinhua summary same-day |
| Launching an LLM product in China | Generative AI Interim Measures (2023) | State Council English (full); China Law Translate (annotated) |
| Risk classification for your AI system | AI Safety Governance Framework (2024) | CAICT report (English summary); China Law Translate |
| Monitoring new AI rules as they appear | CAC official releases (Chinese-first) | Xinhua English (same-day summary); State Council English (48–72h full text) |
China AI regulation timeline (2022–2026)
| Regulation | Effective date | Regulator | Primary impact | English source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Provisions on the Management of Algorithmic Recommendations | March 1, 2022 | CAC / MIIT / MPS / SAMR | Recommendation systems must allow user opt-out; prohibit filter bubbles and addictive design; real-name for news feed providers | State Council English |
| Provisions on the Management of Deep Synthesis Internet Information Services | January 10, 2023 | CAC / MIIT / MPS | AI-generated content labeling mandatory; consent required for face/voice synthesis; security assessments for providers | State Council English |
| Interim Measures for the Management of Generative AI Services | August 15, 2023 | CAC + 6 co-regulators | Content compliance for LLM products serving Chinese users; security assessment before public launch; API providers included | China Law Translate (annotated) |
| AI Safety Governance Framework | 2024 (guidance) | CAICT / TC260 | Risk classification tiers (general / high-risk / very high-risk); safety assessment methodology | CAICT English summary; China Law Translate |
| Measures for the Security Assessment of Internet Information Services with Public Opinion Attributes | February 2022 | CAC | Pre-launch security review for apps with public opinion influence, including AI-powered news aggregators | State Council English; Xinhua English |
| Personal Information Protection Law (PIPL) | November 1, 2021 | CAC / SAMR | Data localization and cross-border transfer restrictions affecting AI training data; consent requirements for biometric processing | State Council English |
| Data Security Law (DSL) | September 1, 2021 | CAC / MIIT | Classification of "important data" affecting AI training data exports; national security review for cross-border data transfers | State Council English |
| AI Standardization Roadmap 2.0 | 2024 (published) | TC260 / SAC | National standards for AI terminology, testing, and evaluation; referenced by Generative AI Interim Measures for compliance benchmarks | China Law Translate; CAICT English summaries |
English-accessible policy sources
| Source | URL | Coverage | Translation lag |
|---|---|---|---|
| The State Council English | english.www.gov.cn | Full text of major national AI regulations; State Council AI plans and white papers | 48–72h after Chinese release for major rules |
| Xinhua English | english.news.cn | Summaries of all major AI policy announcements; ministerial press conferences | Same-day for major announcements; summary-level only |
| CAC Official | cac.gov.cn | Primary text of all CAC rules (deep synthesis, generative AI, algorithm regs); enforcement actions | Chinese-only; State Council English covers major rules |
| China Law Translate | chinalawtranslate.com | Annotated translations of CAC, TC260, MIIT rules; technical AI standards; subscription for full archive | Days to weeks; unofficial but most technically accurate |
Compliance scope: who the rules apply to
The Generative AI Interim Measures (August 2023) apply to any organization providing generative AI services to users in China — including foreign companies whose products are accessible in China. This means API providers, not just consumer app developers, need to conduct security assessments before launching. The CAC has issued guidance that "public-facing" includes both mobile apps and API endpoints used by third-party developers who serve Chinese users. The practical implication: if you are building on a Chinese LLM API and distributing to Chinese users, you are likely within scope of the Interim Measures.
FAQ
- Where can I track China AI policy updates in English?
- The State Council English (english.www.gov.cn) and Xinhua English (english.news.cn) publish official translations of major AI regulations, typically 48–72h after the Chinese-language release. China Law Translate provides annotated unofficial translations of technical standards. RadarAI's policy tracker maps each regulation to its source and notes translation lag.
- What are the key China AI regulations builders need to know?
- The three most impactful for product builders: Algorithmic Recommendations Provisions (March 2022), Deep Synthesis Provisions (January 2023), and Generative AI Interim Measures (August 2023). The 2024 AI Safety Governance Framework adds risk classification. PIPL and DSL are the data layer below all three.
- What is the CAC and how does it affect AI development in China?
- CAC (Cyberspace Administration of China) is China's primary internet content regulator, with authority over AI-generated content, algorithm recommendations, and generative AI services. For AI builders, CAC rules require content labeling, security assessments before public launch, and data handling compliance for training data sourced in China.
- How do China's AI regulations compare to EU AI Act?
- EU AI Act uses a single risk-tiered framework (prohibited / high-risk / limited-risk / minimal-risk) applied market-wide from August 2026. China's approach is domain-specific: separate rules for recommendation algorithms, deepfakes, and generative AI, with enforcement divided across CAC, MIIT, and SAMR. China's rules are earlier in force and focus more on content compliance; EU focuses more on system-level conformity assessment.
- Is synthetic media regulated in China?
- Yes, since January 10, 2023. The Deep Synthesis Provisions require mandatory labeling for all AI-generated content (text, image, audio, video), consent for face/voice synthesis, and real-name registration for providers. Enforcement is by CAC. The regulation applies to any service accessible to users in China.
- Where do I find English translations of Chinese AI regulations?
- Official: State Council English (english.www.gov.cn), 48–72h lag. Summaries: Xinhua English, same-day. Technical/annotated: China Law Translate (chinalawtranslate.com). CAC primary text is Chinese-only — use State Council English for the official translated version of major CAC rules.
Companion pages in this cluster
| If your question is about… | Go to | What's there |
|---|---|---|
| How China AI compares to US AI overall | China AI vs US AI | Ecosystem comparison across models, compute, policy, and open source |
| Best English sources for China AI news | News Sources in English | Layer-by-layer routing guide for policy, model releases, funding |
| Weekly digest of China AI developments | Weekly China AI Digest | 15-minute Monday read covering models, policy, and funding signals |
| Chinese LLM API access from outside China | China AI API Access Guide | Qwen, DeepSeek, Kimi API international availability and signup |
| Broad China AI context and overview | China AI Overview | Topic definition, cluster routing matrix, start-here guide |
Quotable summary: China's AI regulatory stack is the most comprehensive in the world by enforcement date — three major rules in force since 2023, a risk classification framework from 2024, and the world's only live generative AI regulation. For English-first builders, the key routing is: State Council English for official text, China Law Translate for annotated technical detail, and Xinhua English for same-day policy signals.