The proposed rules, open for public comment until May 6, require all digital human-generated content to carry prominent identification, aiming to prevent users from mistaking virtual entities for real individuals. The regulator also moved to prohibit digital humans from offering “virtual intimate relationships” to users under the age of 18.

The draft framework bars the use of personal data without consent to create digital avatars and prohibits the deployment of such entities to circumvent identity verification systems, reflecting concerns over privacy violations and fraud risks linked to advances in artificial intelligence.

Authorities also outlined strict content controls, banning digital humans from producing material deemed harmful to national security, including content that incites subversion, promotes secession, or undermines national unity.

Service providers are instructed to curb the spread of harmful content, including sexually suggestive, violent, or discriminatory material, and are encouraged to intervene when users display signs of self-harm or suicidal behaviour by directing them to professional assistance.

The move aligns with Beijing’s broader push to expand artificial intelligence across its economy while tightening regulatory oversight to ensure alignment with state priorities and social stability.

According to an official analysis published alongside the draft, the measures are intended to close regulatory gaps in the fast-growing digital human sector and establish clear boundaries for its development, framing governance of the technology as a matter of national security, public interest, and long-term digital economy strategy.

The measures target access and usage of major platforms by younger users, amid concerns from parents and guardians that social media companies have assumed an outsized role in shaping children’s online behavior.

YouTube, owned by Google, said it supports the government’s effort to design a “risk-based framework” aimed at mitigating harm while maintaining access to information and digital opportunities.

The company emphasized the need for balanced regulation that does not limit educational and developmental benefits associated with online

Authorities and guardians backing the policy argue that existing safeguards have proven insufficient, with parents increasingly unable to monitor or regulate children’s digital consumption.

The new framework is expected to place greater responsibility on platforms to enforce age-appropriate access, while strengthening mechanisms for parental supervision.

The move reflects a growing global effort by governments to tighten oversight of youth engagement with social media, particularly around issues of safety, mental health, and exposure to harmful content.

Details on enforcement mechanisms and penalties have not been fully disclosed, but officials have indicated the policy will evolve as authorities assess its impact.