The European Commission published the final Code of Practice on marking and labelling of AI-generated content on 10 June 2026.[1] The voluntary code sets out steps for providers and deployers of generative AI systems to meet the transparency obligations of the European Union's AI Act. These obligations apply from 2 August 2026 and include clear labels on deepfakes and on AI-generated text published on matters of public interest.[1]
The code has two sections: one on how providers mark and detect AI-generated content, and one on how deployers, who use the systems, label it.[2] It says that, in most cases, no single marking technique meets the AI Act's quality requirements alone. Providers that sign it therefore commit to at least two machine-readable marking layers: digitally signed, time-stamped metadata and an imperceptible watermark embedded in the content. This commitment covers audio, image and video outputs, and text files that can carry metadata. Until recognized benchmarks exist, signatories may show that their marking meets the requirements through documented internal testing, subject to review by market surveillance authorities.[2]
Signatory providers commit to offer a detection tool, generally free of charge, that lets people exposed to the content, authorities and researchers check whether the content came from the provider's system. On request, a detection result can be downloaded in a signed format that includes a hash of the checked content and a timestamp.[2]
On 8 July, the Commission concluded that the code adequately covers the relevant AI Act provisions. The AI Board adopted its adequacy assessment the next day. The Commission adds that adherence is not conclusive evidence of compliance.[3]
The Digital Omnibus on AI, an EU regulation, was published in the Official Journal on 24 July. It gives providers until 2 December 2026 to meet the marking obligation for systems placed on the market before 2 August 2026.[4]
Sources
- Commission publishes Code of Practice on marking and labelling AI-generated content
- Code of Practice on Transparency of AI-Generated Content
- Commission opinion on the assessment of the Code of Practice on Transparency of AI-generated Content
- Regulation (EU) 2026/1744 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 8 July 2026 (Digital Omnibus on AI)
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