EC publishes first draft of Code of Practice on marking and labelling AI-generated content

The European Commission published the first draft of the Code of Practice on marking and labelling of AI-generated content on 17 December 2025. The timeline provided is to finalise the code in June 2026.

Article 50 of the AI Act includes obligations for providers to mark AI-generated or manipulated content in a machine-readable format, and for users who deploy generative AI systems for professional purposes to clearly label deepfakes and AI-text publications on matters of public interest. To help providers and deployers meet these requirements, the Commission is facilitating the development of a voluntary Code of Practice drafted by independent experts, ahead of these rules entering into application.

The draft Code of Practice consists of two sections. The first section covers rules for marking and detecting AI content, applicable to providers of generative AI systems. The second section covers labelling deepfakes and certain AI-generated or manipulated text on matters of public interest and is applicable to deployers of generative AI systems.

The Commission will collect feedback on the first draft from participants and observers to the Code of Practice until 23 January. The second draft will be drawn up by mid-March 2026, with the Code expected to be finalised by June next year.

The rules covering the transparency of AI-generated content will become applicable on 2 August 2026.

For more information:

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First Draft Code of Practice on Transparency of AI-Generated Content

Read more about the Code of Practice on marking and labelling of AI-generated content.