China has moved to restrict the use of OpenClaw AI at state-owned enterprises and government agencies, citing security concerns over the autonomous agent platform's broad access to private data and its ability to communicate externally.

The Ban

Government agencies and state-run banks received internal notices in recent days warning against installing OpenClaw on office devices, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter. The restrictions go further in some cases: employees at certain agencies and state-run banks are barred from installing OpenClaw on personal phones connected to company networks. One source said the ban was extended to families of military personnel.

Not all notices issued an outright ban — some required prior approval before use. China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission did not respond to press inquiries.

Security Concerns

Cybersecurity researchers have flagged OpenClaw's design as a particular risk: the platform requires unusually wide access to local files and applications, can send and receive messages through external services, and processes content from untrusted sources. One researcher described this combination as a "lethal trifecta."

Beijing's concern aligns with President Xi Jinping's broader push to treat data as a matter of national security under China's "holistic approach to national security" framework.

Market Reaction

Chinese AI-related stocks slid on the news. Tencent Holdings gave up most of its gains, while MiniMax and Zhipu each fell more than 6% in afternoon trading.

Despite the security clampdown, some Chinese tech hubs — including Shenzhen and Wuxi — have offered subsidies to companies building on the OpenClaw platform, creating a split between central caution and regional enthusiasm.