China implements travel restrictions as AI race increases

New sweeping border control regulations went into effect in China Tuesday. The rules could bar citizens from leaving the country if they have threatened China’s industrial or technological security, according to a translated publication from the State Council in Beijing. For instance, if a citizen violates technology export or import regulations, he or she could be banned from leaving. Additionally, citizens whom the government says have harmed national security while overseas could be barred from leaving China for up to three years. The rules were passed in July to safeguard national security and development interests, the State Council said.

What do these new rules mean? The regulations indicated how serious China was about preventing the transfer of technical knowledge and tools, according to policy research firm Trivium. The rules come as China and the United States have been in a growing race over developing artificial intelligence. On Sunday, President Donald Trump said that the United States can’t afford to fall behind, as whoever wins with AI wins overall.

What has China said about the restrictions? A government-run website aimed at refuting what it characterized as rumors described the restrictions as a preventative measure. They will protect the safety of individuals and prevent people from being tricked into leaving the country to engage in illegal gambling or scam activities abroad, the website said.

Do citizens know if they can’t leave the country? Chinese citizens can’t check if they are restricted from leaving the country, according to BBC News. Barring written or verbal notification from the government, they only discover any restrictions when applying for documents or attempting to depart.

Has China already restricted tech executives’ travel? In March, China barred the co-founders of the AI company Manus from leaving the country. The incident occurred while Manus was in the process of making a deal with Meta, according to Reuters. China later blocked Meta from acquiring Manus.