China releases updated AI safety governance framework

On September 14, 2026, the National Cybersecurity Standardization Technical Committee (NCSTC) released the third iteration of its AI safety governance framework during the opening ceremony of the 2026 National Cybersecurity Promotion Week. This follows the release of versions 1.0 and 2.0 in 2024 and 2025, respectively. The framework was developed with guidance from the Cyberspace Administration of China and collaboration with institutions such as the Chinese Academy of Information and Communications Technology and the Data and Technical Support Center of the Cyberspace Administration. The updated framework emphasizes risk classification, technical responses, and comprehensive governance, while adapting to new AI trends and challenges. It aims to enhance global consensus on AI safety and improve risk mitigation capabilities.