European Union: European AI Office initiates the drafting of Code of Practice on transparency of AI-generated content

On 5 November 2025, the European AI Office initiated the draft process for the Code of Practice on transparency of AI-generated content with a plenary meeting of independent experts. The Code of Practice aims to detail how providers and deployers of generative AI systems can comply with their transparency obligations laid down in Article 50(2) and (4) of Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 (the AI Act). These obligations, which will become effective on 2 August 2026, require AI providers to design and develop AI systems so that AI-generated or -manipulated content is detectable through machine-readable marks. Additionally, deployers are required to visibly label deep fakes or AI-generated or -manipulated text published with the purpose of informing the public of public matters, unless the content has been subject to human review or editorial control and a person holds editorial responsibility for its publication. The Code will facilitate the effective implementation of these transparency obligations, supporting practical arrangements for detection mechanisms and cooperation along the value chain to enable the public to distinguish AI-generated content and reduce risks of deception, manipulation, and misinformation. The drafting process engages working groups comprised of providers and deployers of AI systems and is expected to last 7 months, with the aim of publishing the final Code of Practice by June 2026, before the effective date of the transparency obligations.