Chinese Researchers Announce 'Porn Police' AI Helmet to Aid State Censorship

Chinese Researchers Announce 'Porn Police' AI Helmet to Aid State Censorship

BEIJING — A Chinese research team claims to have created a “mind-reading device” that detects “porn watching,” which could be used by police to enforce the country’s strict laws against sexual expression.

An electrical engineering team at Beijing Jiaotong University “combined the power of humans and AI to create a prototype device that sounds an alarm when an indecent image appears,” the South China Morning Post reported this week.

The researchers released images purportedly showing a data set of sample images used to train what they termed a “porn police helmet that can read people’s minds to detect pornography.”

The helmet-like device, the South China Morning Post reported, “could speed up the work of censors trying to spot indecent images on the Chinese internet” and when worn by a subject “can pick up a spike in the brainwaves triggered by explicit content.”

Fifteen male university students aged 20-25 volunteered to wear the item in front of journalists.

“Each time a sensitive photo appeared, an alarm went off,” the paper reported.

Clarifying his team’s invention to facilitate online surveillance, Xu Jianjun, director of the electrical engineering experiment centre at Beijing Jiaotong University, wrote in a peer-reviewed paper published by China’s Journal of Electronic Measurement and Instrumentation earlier this month that the device is suitable for "bad information detection."

China employs a small army of professional state censors, known as “jian huang shi" or “porn appraisers,” to monitor videos and photos posted on the internet or social media platforms.

According to Xu, the “police helmet” is intended “to use the combined power of human and machine to achieve greater precision and efficiency.”

The Cyberspace Administration of China, charged with “monitoring all public information,” defines objectionable material, including what it considers "porn" and even “soft porn,” as “serious content prohibited by national law.” 

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

UPDATED: Supreme Court Rules Against Adult Industry in Pivotal Texas AV Case

The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday issued its decision in Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton, striking a blow against the online adult industry by ruling in support of Texas’ controversial age verification law, HB 1181.

North Carolina Passes Extreme Bill Targeting Adult Sites

The North Carolina state legislature this week ratified a bill that would impose new regulations that industry observers have warned could push adult websites and platforms to ban most adult creators and content.

Supreme Court Ruling Due Friday in FSC v. Paxton AV Case

The U.S. Supreme Court will rule on Friday in Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton, the adult industry trade association's challenge to Texas’ controversial age verification law, HB 1181.

Ofcom: More Porn Providers Commit to Age Assurance Measures

A number of adult content providers operating in the U.K. have confirmed that they plan to introduce age checks in compliance with the Online Safety Act by the July 25 deadline, according to U.K. media regulator Ofcom.

Aylo Says It Will Comply With UK Age Assurance Requirements

Tech and media company Aylo, which owns various adult properties including Pornhub, YouPorn and Redtube, plans to introduce age assurance methods in the United Kingdom that satisfy government rules under the Online Safety Act, the company has announced.

Kyrgyzstan Parliament Approves Measure Outlawing Internet Porn

The Supreme Council of Kyrgyzstan on Wednesday passed legislation outlawing online adult content in the country.

Trial Set for Lawsuit by U Wisconsin Professor Fired Over Adult Content

A trial date of June 22, 2026, has been set for the civil lawsuit filed by veteran communications professor Joe Gow against the University of Wisconsin board of regents, which fired him for creating and appearing in adult content.

New UK Task Force Meets to Target Adult Content

The architect of an influential report that recommended banning adult content deemed “degrading, violent and misogynistic” has convened an “Independent Pornography Review task force” aimed at translating that report’s findings into action in the U.K.

11:11 Creations Launches Affiliate Program

11:11 Creations principal Alicia Silver has launched 11:11 Cash for creators and affiliates.

Pineapple Support, Pornhub to Host 'Self Love' Support Group

Pineapple Support and Pornhub are hosting a free online support group for performers to develop self-love.

Show More