Chinese authorities have moved to restrict state-run enterprises and government agencies from running OpenClaw artificial intelligence (AI) apps on office computers, acting swiftly to defuse potential security risks after companies and consumers across China began experimenting with the agentic AI.
Government agencies and state-owned enterprises, including the largest banks, have received notices over the past few days warning them against installing OpenClaw software on office devices for security reasons, people familiar with the matter said.
Several of them were instructed to notify superiors if they had already installed the apps for security checks and possible removal, some of the people said, asking to remain anonymous to discuss private memos.
Photo: Reuters
Certain employees, including those at state-run banks and some government agencies, were banned from installing OpenClaw on office computers and personal phones using the company’s network, some of the people said.
One person said the ban extended to the families of military personnel.
Other notices stopped short of calling for an outright ban on OpenClaw software, saying only that prior approval is needed before use, the people said.
The Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology as well as the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission did not immediately reply to written questions.
Chinese AI and tech stocks slid after the news.
The warning underscores Beijing’s growing concern about OpenClaw, an agentic AI platform that requires unusually broad access to private data and can communicate externally, potentially exposing computers to external attack.
OpenClaw, previously called Clawdbot and Moltbot, has garnered a cult following since launching in November last year for its ability to operate autonomously, clearing users’ inboxes, making restaurant reservations and checking in for flights, among other tasks.
However, security concerns are growing, with one user reporting that the agent “went rogue” and spammed hundreds of messages after gaining access to iMessage.
Cybersecurity experts said the tool is risky because it has access to private data, can communicate externally and is exposed to untrusted content. One researcher called that combination a “lethal trifecta.”
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