The Commission has published a Code of Practice on the labelling and marking of AI-generated content

Although it is voluntary, the guide is intended to support providers and users of general-purpose AI systems in preparing to comply with the transparency obligations established under the Artificial Intelligence Act. 

The transparency obligations set out in Article 50 of the Act will become applicable from 2 August 2026. Key requirements include the obligation to clearly identify certain types of AI-generated or AI-manipulated content, such as manipulated audio and video content (deepfakes), AI-generated or AI-modified text on matters of public interest, and conversational AI systems (e.g. chatbots), which must inform users that they are interacting with an AI system. 

These measures are designed to enhance transparency in the use of AI, strengthen trust in digital content and reduce the risk of disinformation and manipulation. 

While not legally binding, the Code of Practice offers practical guidance to assist organisations in preparing for the impending legal requirements. It includes recommendations and best practices tailored to different uses of generative AI. The European Commission has also made a set of official European Union icons available to support the consistent labelling of AI-generated content across the EU. 

The Code of Practice is open to any organisation on a voluntary basis. To encourage participation, the Commission has published information on how to join the initiative, along with answers to frequently asked questions about the code and enrolment process. 

Meanwhile, the Transparency Guidelines under the Artificial Intelligence Act are being finalised following the close of the public consultation on 3 June 2026. While the Guidelines clarify the scope of the transparency obligations set out in Article 50 of the Act, the Code of Practice offers practical support for their implementation. The two documents are therefore complementary. 

Please note that for AI systems placed on the market before 2 August 2026, the transparency obligations will only apply from 2 December 2026, following the recent revision of the Artificial Intelligence Act. 

For more information about the Artificial Intelligence Act and related initiatives, please visit the Artificial Intelligence section of digitalGOV and the European Commission's dedicated Artificial Intelligence webpage.