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China's first AI obscenity case tests criminal liability of companionship chat developers

By MLex Staff ( January 20, 2026, 08:45 GMT | Insight) -- A Shanghai court recently held a second instance hearing in China’s first criminal case involving AI-generated obscene content, putting the spotlight on how far companionship AI developers can be held liable under existing Chinese laws. Although the retrial at the Shanghai No. 1 Intermediate People’s Court was postponed amid technical disputes over foundational issues, the court is considering whether to appoint recognized experts to explain the underlying technical principles and operational logic of the software at issue. A new date for the case has yet to be scheduled. A Shanghai court recently held a second instance hearing in China’s first criminal case involving AI-generated obscene content, putting the spotlight on how far companionship AI developers can be held liable under existing Chinese laws....

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