China Moves To Curb OpenClaw AI Use At Banks, State Agencies (bloomberg.com)
(Wednesday March 11, 2026 @12:00PM (BeauHD)
from the not-so-fast dept.)
- Reference: 0180950426
- News link: https://slashdot.org/story/26/03/11/0623220/china-moves-to-curb-openclaw-ai-use-at-banks-state-agencies
- Source link: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-03-11/china-moves-to-limit-use-of-openclaw-ai-at-banks-government-agencies
An anonymous reader quotes a report from Bloomberg:
> Chinese authorities moved to [1]restrict state-run enterprises and government agencies from running OpenClaw AI apps on office computers , acting swiftly to defuse potential security risks after companies and consumers across China began experimenting with the agentic AI phenomenon. Government agencies and state-owned enterprises, including the largest banks, have received notices in recent days warning them against installing OpenClaw software on office devices for security reasons [...]. Several of them were instructed to notify superiors if they had already installed related apps for security checks and possible removal, some of the people said.
>
> Certain employees, including those at state-run banks and some government agencies, were banned from installing OpenClaw on office computers and also personal phones using the company's network, some of the people said. One person said the ban was also 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 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. [...]
>
> Despite the potential security risks, companies from Tencent to JD.com Inc. have been [2]rolling out OpenClaw apps to try and capitalize on the groundswell of enthusiasm, while several local government agencies have declared millions of yuan in subsidies for companies that develop atop the platform. [...] Tech giants like Tencent and Alibaba, along with AI upstarts ranging from Moonshot to MiniMax, have rolled out their own tweaks of the software touting simple, one-click adoption. A slew of government agencies, in cities from Shenzhen to Wuxi, have issued notices offering multimillion-yuan subsidies to startups leveraging OpenClaw to make advances. The frenzy has helped drive up shares of AI model developer MiniMax nearly 640% since its listing just two months ago. It's now worth about $49 billion, surpassing Baidu -- once viewed as the frontrunner in Chinese AI development -- in market value. The company launched MaxClaw, an agent built on OpenClaw, in late February.
[1] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-03-11/china-moves-to-limit-use-of-openclaw-ai-at-banks-government-agencies
[2] https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/chinas-shenzhen-backs-openclaw-ai-with-subsidies-despite-beijings-security-2026-03-09/
> Chinese authorities moved to [1]restrict state-run enterprises and government agencies from running OpenClaw AI apps on office computers , acting swiftly to defuse potential security risks after companies and consumers across China began experimenting with the agentic AI phenomenon. Government agencies and state-owned enterprises, including the largest banks, have received notices in recent days warning them against installing OpenClaw software on office devices for security reasons [...]. Several of them were instructed to notify superiors if they had already installed related apps for security checks and possible removal, some of the people said.
>
> Certain employees, including those at state-run banks and some government agencies, were banned from installing OpenClaw on office computers and also personal phones using the company's network, some of the people said. One person said the ban was also 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 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. [...]
>
> Despite the potential security risks, companies from Tencent to JD.com Inc. have been [2]rolling out OpenClaw apps to try and capitalize on the groundswell of enthusiasm, while several local government agencies have declared millions of yuan in subsidies for companies that develop atop the platform. [...] Tech giants like Tencent and Alibaba, along with AI upstarts ranging from Moonshot to MiniMax, have rolled out their own tweaks of the software touting simple, one-click adoption. A slew of government agencies, in cities from Shenzhen to Wuxi, have issued notices offering multimillion-yuan subsidies to startups leveraging OpenClaw to make advances. The frenzy has helped drive up shares of AI model developer MiniMax nearly 640% since its listing just two months ago. It's now worth about $49 billion, surpassing Baidu -- once viewed as the frontrunner in Chinese AI development -- in market value. The company launched MaxClaw, an agent built on OpenClaw, in late February.
[1] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-03-11/china-moves-to-limit-use-of-openclaw-ai-at-banks-government-agencies
[2] https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/chinas-shenzhen-backs-openclaw-ai-with-subsidies-despite-beijings-security-2026-03-09/
DO NOT LET ROKO'S BASILISK OUT FRONT DOOR! (Score:2)
by Pseudonymous Powers ( 4097097 )
Is it the Year of the Monkey on Crack with a Shotgun already?
Re: (Score:2)
by Mr. Dollar Ton ( 5495648 )
It is always that year, just the shotguns are different.
But it isn't all bad. I don't know what this "OpenClaw" is, but I've found some Tencent models quite useful, e.g. their picture to 3D ones. Most of the time you can snap a few photos and just 3d-print the model they produce.
Re: (Score:2)
by Mr. Dollar Ton ( 5495648 )
I see, it is yet another "agentic framework". Well, all of them are pretty much devoid of any security, so this is hardly an exception.
A better idea (Score:2)
by MpVpRb ( 1423381 )
Instead of banning use on office computers, set up an isolated test lab for OpenClaw experimentation
Geez...I thought they were smarter...? (Score:2)
Ok...while I can understand everyday users not knowing what they're getting into with OpenClaw....even after these weeks of internet warnings about handing the keys to it without guard rails...
I can't fathom users at banks and government facilities installing this, much less even having their computers not locked down by default to prevent this?!?!
I'm about to start experimenting with it...have a Mac Mini 24GB on the way....it will be dedicated to OC...and run small model, etc....using docker, etc...tryin
Re: Geez...I thought they were smarter...? (Score:2)
It's pretty damning that people who are paid to know better apparently don't. Makes you wonder if the others haven't banned it yet or are ok with it.