China and California both moved to rein in AI companion apps this month and the whole debate hinges on a question most builders never ask: what happens when the user closes your app?
Two weeks ago, on July 15, China rolled out rules specifically aimed at curbing emotional dependence on AI companion bots. Platforms now have to detect distress, intervene in a crisis, cap excessive use, and hand users real control over their data. California, meanwhile, became the first U.S. state to pass legislation regulating companion chatbots, forcing developers to build in actual safety protocols.