Chinese local governments offer OpenClaw project subsidies as security questions linger

South China Morning PostEN 1 min read 100% complete by Ben JiangMarch 9, 2026 at 02:30 PM

AI Summary

short article 1 min

Several local governments in China, including Shenzhen and Wuxi, are offering significant subsidies to encourage the adoption of OpenClaw, a popular AI agent. These subsidies, ranging from hundreds of thousands to millions of yuan, aim to promote innovative industrial applications of the software. This push comes despite warnings from the National Vulnerability DataBase about potential high-level security risks associated with improper configuration of OpenClaw, including cyberattacks and privacy leaks. The rush to embrace OpenClaw, nicknamed "raise the lobster," involves long queues for installation and widespread offers of paid installation services. The subsidies highlight a government effort to promote AI adoption despite security concerns.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Jiangsu 50% Ministry of Industry and Information Technology 50% Wuxi 60% Longgang 60% National Vulnerability DataBase (NVDB) 60% Tencent Holdings ×270% Shenzhen ×270% China ×280% OpenClaw ×790%

Keywords

openclaw 100% artificial intelligence agent 80% china 80% subsidies 70% security risks 70% local governments 60% privacy 60% technology 50% cybersecurity 50%