---
title: "European Economic Area — Transparency & Synthetic Content | Global AI Monitor"
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description: "European Economic Area — Transparency & Synthetic Content: 05 Transparency & Synthetic Content Active Under review ▾ # Artificial Intelligence Act (Valid from 2024-08-01): Horizontal EU regulation setting risk-based rules for AI systems an"
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# European Economic Area — Transparency & Synthetic Content | Global AI Monitor

### 05Transparency & Synthetic ContentActive Derived: Probable▾#

Artificial Intelligence Act (Valid from 2024-08-01): Horizontal EU regulation setting risk-based rules for AI systems and general-purpose AI models, applying in stages from 2 February 2025 to 2 August 2028 as amended by Regulation (EU) 2026/1744.

6 instruments · 8 obligations · 9 claims · Next: 2 Dec 2026 (Article 5(1)(ba), (bb), (1a), (1b) prohibitions begin to apply)

6 instruments (6 current) · 8 obligations · 9 claims · 14 milestones

Instruments

- Artificial Intelligence Act Valid from 2024-08-01Horizontal EU regulation setting risk-based rules for AI systems and general-purpose AI models, applying in stages from 2 February 2025 to 2 August 2028 as amended by Regulation (EU) 2026/1744.Binding · Authority: European AI Office (European Commission), European Data Protection Supervisor · Verified 8 Oct 2026 · [Official text](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1689/oj)
- Code of Practice on transparency of AI-generated content Date not recordedVoluntary code on marking, detection and labelling of AI-generated content, confirmed adequate by the Commission and AI Board.Non-binding · Verified 8 Oct 2026 · [Official text](https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/code-practice-ai-generated-content)
- Commission guidelines on Article 50 transparency obligations Valid from 2026-07-20Commission guidelines defining the scope of Article 50 transparency obligations, published 20 July 2026.Non-binding · Verified 8 Oct 2026 · [Official text](https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/library/guidelines-transparency-obligations-providers-and-deployers-ai-systems)
- Denmark: draft Copyright Act amendment on realistic digital imitations (deepfakes) Draft, no legal forceDraft Danish copyright amendment protecting people's likeness and voice against realistic AI imitations, with satire and parody carve-outs.Verified 8 Oct 2026 · [Official text](https://intellectual-property-helpdesk.ec.europa.eu/news-events/news/denmarks-proposed-copyright-rules-deepfakes-2026-06-01_en)
- Digital Omnibus on AI Valid from 2026-07-27Amends the AI Act timeline, adds Article 5 prohibitions on non-consensual intimate deepfakes and CSAM-type material, replaces Article 4 and adjusts sandbox and AI Office powers.Binding · Authority: European AI Office (European Commission) · Verified 8 Oct 2026 · [Official text](https://publications.europa.eu/resource/cellar/b459c07f-86fb-11f1-bf5e-01aa75ed71a1.0006.01/DOC_1)
- Italian Law on artificial intelligence Valid from 2025-10-10Italian national framework law designating AgID and ACN, regulating AI in work and professions, copyright and criminal law.Binding · Authority: National Cybersecurity Agency (ACN), Agenzia per l'Italia digitale (AgID) · Verified 8 Oct 2026 · [Official text](https://www.gazzettaufficiale.it/eli/id/2025/09/25/25G00143/sg)

Obligations

- Article 50(1)Providers must design AI systems that interact directly with natural persons so that those persons are informed they are interacting with an AI system, unless obvious.transparency disclosure · Applies to: provider · Artificial Intelligence Act
- Article 50(2)Providers of AI systems, including general-purpose AI systems, generating synthetic audio, image, video or text must mark outputs in a machine-readable format and make them detectable as artificially generated or manipulated.marking or watermarking · Applies to: provider · Artificial Intelligence Act
- Article 50(3)Deployers of emotion recognition or biometric categorisation systems must inform the natural persons exposed to the operation of the system.transparency disclosure · Applies to: deployer · Artificial Intelligence Act
- Article 50(4)Deployers of AI systems that generate or manipulate image, audio or video content constituting a deep fake must disclose that the content has been artificially generated or manipulated.transparency disclosure · Applies to: deployer · Artificial Intelligence Act
- Article 1(39)(b), inserting Article 111(4)Providers of generative AI systems placed on the market before 2 August 2026 must take the necessary steps to comply with Article 50(2) by 2 December 2026.marking or watermarking · Applies to: provider · Digital Omnibus on AI
- Art. 26(1)(c), inserting Art. 612-quater of the Penal CodeUnlawfully disseminating without consent images, video or voices falsified or altered with AI systems and capable of misleading about their genuineness, causing unjust harm, is an offence.prohibition · Applies to: other · Italian Law on artificial intelligence
- § 5(1)Traficom supervises, as market surveillance authority, compliance with the Article 50 transparency obligations of the AI Act.transparency disclosure · Applies to: other · Finland: Act 1377/2025 on the supervision of certain AI systems
- Draft Copyright Act amendment (TRIS 2025/0654/DK)Unauthorised publication of realistic digital imitations of a person would be illegal and reportable to online sharing platforms as illegal content, with exceptions for satire and parody.prohibition · Applies to: other · Denmark: draft Copyright Act amendment on realistic digital imitations (deepfakes)

Milestones

- 1 Aug 2024Entry into force of the AI Act MetArtificial Intelligence Act
- 2 Feb 2025Chapters I and II (definitions, prohibitions) apply MetArtificial Intelligence Act
- 2 Aug 2025Governance, GPAI obligations and penalties apply; Member States designate authorities MetArtificial Intelligence Act
- 10 Oct 2025Italian Law 132/2025 enters into force MetItalian Law on artificial intelligence
- 27 Jul 2026Omnibus enters into force MetDigital Omnibus on AI
- 2 Aug 2026General application; Article 50 transparency rules and enforcement start MetArtificial Intelligence Act
- 2 Dec 2026Article 5(1)(ba), (bb), (1a), (1b) prohibitions begin to apply UpcomingDigital Omnibus on AI
- 2 Dec 2026Article 50(2) compliance deadline for generative AI systems placed on the market before 2 August 2026 UpcomingDigital Omnibus on AI
- 1 Jan 2027 (month)Danish minister's hoped-for start of the deepfake copyright amendment UpcomingDenmark: draft Copyright Act amendment on realistic digital imitations (deepfakes)
- 2 Aug 2027Providers of GPAI models placed on the market before 2 August 2025 must comply UpcomingArtificial Intelligence Act
- 2 Aug 2027National AI regulatory sandbox operational in each Member State MovedDigital Omnibus on AI
- 2 Dec 2027Chapter III Sections 1-3 apply to Annex III high-risk systems MovedDigital Omnibus on AI
- 2 Aug 2028Chapter III Sections 1-3 apply to Annex I (product-embedded) high-risk systems MovedDigital Omnibus on AI
- 2 Aug 2028Delegated acts adding AI health and safety requirements to the Machinery Regulation apply UpcomingDigital Omnibus on AI

Claims and evidence (9)
- Article 50 requires AI-interaction disclosure, machine-readable marking of synthetic content, emotion/biometric notice, and deep-fake disclosure, all applying from 2 August 2026.Confidence: Confirmed · As of 2 Aug 2026 · evidencedEvidence and sources[Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 (Artificial Intelligence Act), Official Journal text](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1689/oj) T1 · retrieved · retrieved 8 Oct 2026 · Article 50(1)Providers shall ensure that AI systems intended to interact directly with natural persons are designed and developed in such a way that the natural persons concerned are informed
- [Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 (Artificial Intelligence Act), Official Journal text](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1689/oj) T1 · retrieved · retrieved 8 Oct 2026 · Article 50(2)Providers of AI systems, including general-purpose AI systems, generating synthetic audio, image, video or text content, shall ensure that the outputs are marked in a machine-readable format
- [Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 (Artificial Intelligence Act), Official Journal text](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1689/oj) T1 · retrieved · retrieved 8 Oct 2026 · Article 50(3)Deployers of an emotion recognition system or a biometric categorisation system shall inform the natural persons exposed thereto of the operation of the system
- [Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 (Artificial Intelligence Act), Official Journal text](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1689/oj) T1 · retrieved · retrieved 8 Oct 2026 · Article 50(4)Deployers of an AI system that generates or manipulates image, audio or video content constituting a deep fake, shall disclose that the content has been artificially generated or manipulated.
- [Guidelines on transparency obligations for providers and deployers of AI systems](https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/library/guidelines-transparency-obligations-providers-and-deployers-ai-systems) T1 · retrieved · retrieved 8 Oct 2026 · LeadThese guidelines define the scope of transparency obligations for providers and deployers of AI systems under Article 50 of the AI Act.

- Providers of generative AI systems placed on the market before 2 August 2026 must comply with Article 50(2) by 2 December 2026.Confidence: Confirmed · As of 2 Dec 2026 · evidencedEvidence and sources[Regulation (EU) 2026/1744 (Digital Omnibus on AI), Official Journal text](https://publications.europa.eu/resource/cellar/b459c07f-86fb-11f1-bf5e-01aa75ed71a1.0006.01/DOC_1) T1 · retrieved · retrieved 8 Oct 2026 · Article 1(39)(b), inserting Article 111(4)Providers of AI systems, including general-purpose AI systems, generating synthetic audio, image, video or text content, that have been placed on the market before 2 August 2026 shall take the necessary steps in order to comply with Article 50(2) by 2 December 2026.';
- [AI Act Service Desk - implementation timeline](https://ai-act-service-desk.ec.europa.eu/en/ai-act/timeline/timeline-implementation-eu-ai-act) T1 · retrieved · retrieved 8 Oct 2026 · Timeline item 502 Dec 2026 New prohibitions + Article 50(2) transition apply ** - Prohibitions, for AI systems generating non-consensual sexual deepfakes and child sexual abuse material, start to apply.

- The Commission and the AI Board confirmed the Code of Practice on transparency of AI-generated content is an adequate voluntary tool, and more than 180 organisations have signed it.Confidence: Confirmed · evidencedEvidence and sources[Code of Practice on transparency of AI-generated content](https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/code-practice-ai-generated-content) T1 · retrieved · retrieved 8 Oct 2026 · LeadThe Commission and the AI Board have confirmed that the code is an adequate voluntary tool to demonstrate compliance with the AI Act transparency obligations.
- [Press release IP/26/1714: Commission starts enforcing AI Act rules and new transparency requirements on 2 August](https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/api/files/document/print/en/ip_26_1714/IP_26_1714_EN.pdf) T1 · retrieved · retrieved 8 Oct 2026 · Body180 organisations that have signed the Code of Practice on transparency of AI-generated content that operationalises the rules on transparency of AI- generated content.

- The Commission published guidelines on Article 50 transparency obligations on 20 July 2026.Confidence: Probable · As of 20 Jul 2026 · evidencedEvidence and sources[Guidelines on transparency obligations for providers and deployers of AI systems](https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/library/guidelines-transparency-obligations-providers-and-deployers-ai-systems) T1 · retrieved · retrieved 8 Oct 2026 · LeadThese guidelines define the scope of transparency obligations for providers and deployers of AI systems under Article 50 of the AI Act.

- Article 26 of Law 132/2025 inserts Article 612-quater into the Penal Code, criminalising unlawful dissemination of AI-generated or altered images, video or voices that cause unjust harm.Confidence: Probable · As of 10 Oct 2025 · evidencedEvidence and sources[Gazzetta Ufficiale Serie Generale n. 223 of 25-9-2025 (Legge 132/2025 full text)](https://www.gazzettaufficiale.it/eli/gu/2025/09/25/223/sg/pdf) T1 · retrieved · retrieved 8 Oct 2026 · Art. 26(1)(c), inserting Art. 612-quater c.p.Whoever causes unjust harm to a person by transferring, publishing or otherwise disseminating, without their consent, images, videos or voices falsified or altered through the use of artificial intelligence systems and capable of misleading as to their genuineness

- The Data Protection Ombudsman supervises Article 5 prohibited practices and Traficom supervises Article 50 transparency obligations in Finland.Confidence: Confirmed · As of 1 Jan 2026 · evidencedEvidence and sources[Laki eräiden tekoälyjärjestelmien valvonnasta 1377/2025](https://www.finlex.fi/api/media/statute/898466/mainPdf/main.pdf?timestamp=2025-12-29T07:54:55.090Z) T1 · retrieved · retrieved 8 Oct 2026 · § 4The Data Protection Ombudsman supervises, as market surveillance authority, compliance with the prohibited artificial intelligence practices under Article 5 of the AI Regulation.
- [Laki eräiden tekoälyjärjestelmien valvonnasta 1377/2025](https://www.finlex.fi/api/media/statute/898466/mainPdf/main.pdf?timestamp=2025-12-29T07:54:55.090Z) T1 · retrieved · retrieved 8 Oct 2026 · § 5(1)The Finnish Transport and Communications Agency supervises, as market surveillance authority, compliance with the transparency obligations under Article 50 of the AI Regulation.

- Denmark has notified to the European Commission, under TRIS procedure 2025/0654/DK, a draft act amending its Copyright Act to address realistic AI-generated digital imitations (deepfakes).Confidence: Confirmed · As of 1 Jun 2026 · evidencedEvidence and sources[Denmark's proposed copyright rules on deepfakes](https://intellectual-property-helpdesk.ec.europa.eu/news-events/news/denmarks-proposed-copyright-rules-deepfakes-2026-06-01_en) T1 · retrieved · retrieved 8 Oct 2026 · Opening paragraphDenmark has notified a draft act amending its Copyright Act to address realistic digitally generated imitations, commonly known as 'deepfakes'.

- Derived: Probable Denmark was due to introduce the deepfake bill to the Folketing on Thursday, 8 October 2026, with the minister hoping it will take effect at the start of 2027.Confidence: Probable · As of 8 Oct 2026 · evidencedEvidence and sources[Denmark introduces bill to protect people's faces and voices from deepfakes](https://www.euronews.com/2026/10/08/denmark-introduces-a-bill-protecting-peoples-faces-and-voices-from-deepfakes) T2 · retrieved · retrieved 8 Oct 2026 · Opening paragraphDenmark is due to introduce a bill on Thursday that would ban the sharing of realistic deepfakes of people's faces and voices without their consent.
- [Denmark introduces bill to protect people's faces and voices from deepfakes](https://www.euronews.com/2026/10/08/denmark-introduces-a-bill-protecting-peoples-faces-and-voices-from-deepfakes) T2 · retrieved · retrieved 8 Oct 2026 · BodyThe minister hopes the law will take effect at the start of 2027.

- Under the notified Danish draft, unauthorised publication of realistic AI-generated imitations of a person would be illegal and could be reported to online sharing platforms as illegal content, subject to satire and parody exceptions.Confidence: Confirmed · As of 1 Jun 2026 · evidencedEvidence and sources[Denmark's proposed copyright rules on deepfakes](https://intellectual-property-helpdesk.ec.europa.eu/news-events/news/denmarks-proposed-copyright-rules-deepfakes-2026-06-01_en) T1 · retrieved · retrieved 8 Oct 2026 · BodyAs set out in the TRIS notification, such unauthorised publication would be illegal under Danish law, and the content could be reported to online sharing platforms as illegal content.

Open evidence