China issues second warning on OpenClaw risks amid adoption frenzy

China Issues Warning on OpenClaw Risks

China’s cybersecurity agency has issued a second warning about potential security and data risks associated with the OpenClaw AI agent, despite its increasing adoption across local governments and tech companies.

The National Computer Network Emergency Response Technical Team/Coordination Center of China (CNCERT) highlighted that improper installation and use of OpenClaw, developed by Austrian developer Peter Steinberger, can lead to severe security threats, including 'prompt injection' attacks and operational errors that may cause data loss.

OpenClaw’s ability to perform tasks autonomously requires high-level permissions, increasing vulnerability to breaches. Despite the warnings, the software has gained popularity due to its ability to automate routine tasks such as email organization and report drafting.