China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has introduced new regulations bringing AI agents preinstalled on smartphones, tablets, and wearable devices under its telecommunications equipment market-entry oversight, as these systems increasingly perform tasks across multiple applications.
Under the new rules, AI agents must carry unique identification codes to ensure their activities can be traced. Device manufacturers must also submit upgrade plans to MIIT before deploying AI-agent updates through over-the-air (OTA) upgrades. After implementation, they must submit reports for expert evaluation before making the updated services available to users.
The rules also require app developers to explicitly declare whether they authorize AI agents to access their applications. Agents are prohibited from accessing apps without such authorization.
The regulations address security risks, including AI agents independently obtaining higher-level permissions or credentials without user approval, potentially triggering sensitive operations such as deleting data or issuing commands.
The move comes amid rapid industry growth. MIIT reported that shipments of various smart devices exceeded 100 million units in the first half of 2026. China aims to achieve a penetration rate of more than 90 percent for new-generation smart devices and AI-agent applications by 2030.
Industry analysts say the rules may initially increase development and production costs but could strengthen security, clarify corporate responsibilities, and establish more consistent market standards.
Source: People’s Daily, November 12, 2026
http://finance.people.com.cn/n1/2026/1112/c1004-40832771.html