Shenzhen District Proposes Policy to Boost OpenClaw and OPC Development

The Artificial Intelligence (Robotics) Agency of Shenzhen's Longgang District has released a draft policy aimed at fostering the development of OpenClaw — an open-source AI agent popularly nicknamed "Little Lobster" — and the emerging One Person Company (OPC) model, according to a public consultation notice issued recently.

The proposed measures offer a broad package of support. They encourage market-oriented and professional platforms to establish "Lobster Service Zones" that provide free OpenClaw deployment services, with eligible providers receiving government subsidies. The policy also backs the development and promotion of OpenClaw-style intelligent agent tools, and includes support for AIGC model access, computing power, application scenarios, talent and entrepreneurship spaces, financing, overseas expansion, and competition-based rewards.

OpenClaw, developed by software engineer Peter Steinberg, has captured the attention of China's tech community with its ability to effectively "take over" a user's computer. The AI agent can draft weekly reports, search the web, book restaurants, and even fix programming bugs — functionality that users describe as "installing a brain" into their machines.

However, this capability comes with significant complexity. The software requires intricate configuration and model integration, creating installation hurdles that challenge even users with programming experience. This technical barrier has given rise to an unexpected service economy.

On March 6, hundreds of people lined up outside Tencent's headquarters in Shenzhen, waiting for free OpenClaw installation services. Across domestic social platforms, posts offering "door-to-door OpenClaw installation and debugging" have become common, with pricing ranging from 300 yuan (US$43) for remote setup to 500–1,500 yuan for on-site service — covering local deployment, debugging, and basic usage guidance. One service provider reportedly claimed earnings of 260,000 yuan within days of entering the trade.

The growing popularity of OpenClaw has also drawn attention to potential security risks. China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) yesterday issued a security alert, stating that its Cybersecurity Threat and Vulnerability Information Sharing Platform has detected high-risk configurations in some OpenClaw instances under default or improper settings. These vulnerabilities, the ministry warned, could lead to cyberattacks, data leaks, and other security incidents.

The MIIT advised organizations and individuals deploying the software to assess public network exposure, permission settings, and credential management practices. Recommendations include closing unnecessary public access points and strengthening identity authentication, access control, data encryption, and security auditing mechanisms.