China Extends Travel Bans to Families of AI Experts

The Government of China has expanded overseas travel restrictions for top artificial intelligence and chip professionals in the private sector to include their immediate family members. Spouses and children of startup founders and executives at strategically important firms must now obtain government approval before traveling abroad, including for short trips.

These measures target leaders at companies such as Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. and DeepSeek whose work is deemed paramount to state security. The policy broadens existing curbs on tech talent and aligns with new rules effective September 15 for enforcing exit bans related to industrial and technological security. The restrictions aim to prevent the outflow of critical technical know-how and sensitive information to the United States.

Beijing intensified these crackdowns following concerns over technology leaks, specifically highlighted by Meta Platforms' attempted US$2 billion acquisition of Manus, a deal the Chinese government eventually ordered the company to unwind. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology did not respond to requests for comment regarding the expanded restrictions.