On July 29, reporters obtained information from industry sources indicating that the Special Committee on Investor Education and Protection, operating under the auspices of the Council of the Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE), has selected three principal research themes for the current year. These themes encompass the development of a robust framework for preventing and controlling illicit securities activities, delineating the boundaries and ensuring compliance in the use of artificial intelligence within securities services, and pinpointing prevalent complaint scenarios along with dispute resolution strategies at securities firms. Presently, three tailored research questionnaires have been systematically disseminated to diverse member organizations, effectively initiating a thorough assessment—or a “comprehensive health check”—of the investor protection system within the securities sector.

Industry insiders have pointed out that, judging by the questionnaire design, regulatory focus has transitioned from merely assessing the “presence” of measures to evaluating their “effectiveness.” This shift reflects a move away from a simple satisfaction with institutional setups towards a more rigorous examination of the practical outcomes of mechanism implementations, the tangible effects of technological tools, and the resolution of interdepartmental collaboration challenges. The insights gleaned from these research endeavors are expected to offer vital guidance for the crafting of future industry policies and the dissemination of exemplary practices.