Let G be a compact quantum group. We show that given a G-equivariant $\textrm {C}^*$-correspondence E, the Pimsner algebra $\mathcal {O}_E$ can be naturally made into a G-$\textrm {C}^*$-algebra. We also provide sufficient conditions under which it is guaranteed that a G-action on the Pimsner algebra $\mathcal {O}_E$ arises in this way, in a suitable precise sense. When G is of Kac type, a KMS state on the Pimsner algebra, arising from a quasi-free dynamics, is G-equivariant if and only if the tracial state obtained from restricting it to the coefficient algebra is G-equivariant, under a natural condition. We apply these results to the situation when the $\textrm {C}^*$-correspondence is obtained from a finite, directed graph and draw various conclusions on the quantum automorphism groups of such graphs, both in the sense of Banica and Bichon.

One of the main aims of this paper is to give a large class of strongly solid compact quantum groups. We do this by using quantum Markov semigroups and noncommutative Riesz transforms. We introduce a property for quantum Markov semigroups of central multipliers on a compact quantum group which we shall call ‘approximate linearity with almost commuting intertwiners’. We show that this property is stable under free products, monoidal equivalence, free wreath products and dual quantum subgroups. Examples include in particular all the (higher-dimensional) free orthogonal easy quantum groups.

We then show that a compact quantum group with a quantum Markov semigroup that is approximately linear with almost commuting intertwiners satisfies the immediately gradient- ${\mathcal {S}}_2$ condition from [10] and derive strong solidity results (following [10]). Using the noncommutative Riesz transform we also show that these quantum groups have the Akemann–Ostrand property; in particular, the same strong solidity results follow again (now following [27]).