Mark AI-generated content machine-readably

Providers generating synthetic audio/image/video/text must mark outputs in a machine-readable format detectable as artificially generated or manipulated (with limited exceptions).

Applies to

Provider, GPAI model provider

Scope

Limited-risk / transparency

Applies from

2026-08-02 — Article 50 transparency obligations apply; enforcement powers arrive

Derives from

Article 50

Primary source

Art. 50 AIA

Evidence an auditor expects

• Machine-readable content marking — Technical marking (e.g. watermark/metadata/provenance) making AI-generated content detectable as artificial.

FAQ

What evidence do I need for Article 50?
Machine-readable content marking. Each should be contemporaneous, versioned, and traceable to the system version.

When does “Mark AI-generated content machine-readably” apply?
From 2026-08-02 — Article 50 transparency obligations apply; enforcement powers arrive. It applies to: Provider, GPAI model provider.

What fails an audit here?
Missing or retroactively-created documentation.

Legal source

Art. 50 AIA

Explained in the newsletter

• Article 50: the EU AI Act transparency deadlines affecting every product with AI features

Not legal advice. This is a practitioner reference generated from a cited knowledge base built on the primary legal text and official Commission guidance. Verify against the cited primary sources before relying on it for a compliance decision. See editorial standards & methodology.