China Amends Cybersecurity Law to Add First-Ever AI Clause
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China has amended its landmark Cybersecurity Law for the first time to include a specific article on artificial intelligence, embedding AI governance into a fundamental national security law as it pivots toward a more sector-specific regulatory approach.
The amendment, passed by the National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee on Oct. 28, will take effect Jan. 1, 2026. This move marks China’s latest effort to regulate the booming AI sector and reflects a strategic shift away from drafting a single, comprehensive AI law, which has been stalled, in favor of a more flexible framework.
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- China amended its Cybersecurity Law to add a specific article on AI governance, effective January 1, 2026.
- The amendment supports AI development, ethics, risk monitoring, and the use of AI for cybersecurity, reflecting a shift to sector-specific regulation.
- China currently lacks a unified national AI law, so AI provisions are being integrated into existing laws as a flexible approach.
- Zhejiang Kenting Law Firm
- Zhang Yanlai, director of Zhejiang Kenting Law Firm, states that the amendment to China's Cybersecurity Law, which includes an AI clause, provides a legal foundation for future AI safety regulations. He believes that integrating AI-related clauses into existing laws is a more practical approach since a comprehensive AI law is not yet ready.
- June 1, 2017：
- China's Cybersecurity Law took effect.
- By 2023：
- State Council’s annual legislative plan listed an AI Law (draft) as a project to be submitted for review by the NPC Standing Committee.
- By 2024：
- State Council’s annual legislative plan again listed an AI Law (draft) as a project to be submitted for review by the NPC Standing Committee.
- 2025：
- State Council’s annual legislative plan changed its wording to 'advancing legislative work for the healthy development of artificial intelligence' and did not list the AI Law draft for submission.
- September 2025：
- The first draft of the Cybersecurity Law amendment was submitted for reading and did not contain any AI-related content.
- After September 2025：
- AI-related provisions were added to the second draft of the Cybersecurity Law amendment following suggestions from lawmakers and the public.
- October 28, 2025：
- The amendment to the Cybersecurity Law, including the new AI clause, was passed by the NPC Standing Committee.
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