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EU AI Act 2026: when must AI-generated content be disclosed?

Article 50 transparency rules apply from 2 August 2026. A practical guide for businesses using AI in content.

Article 50 transparency requirements under the EU AI Act apply from 2 August 2026. This does not mean every piece of AI-assisted marketing content receives the same label; obligations depend on the system, content and use.

This is a practical overview, not legal advice.

Deepfakes and public-interest text

The Commission explains disclosure duties for deployers generating or manipulating deepfake image, audio or video. It also describes transparency for AI-generated or manipulated text published to inform the public on matters of public interest, with an exception where human review or editorial control exists and a person has editorial responsibility.

What should marketing teams do?

  1. Inventory AI tools used for text, image, audio, video and chatbots.
  2. Classify internal assistance versus externally published synthetic content.
  3. Use clear human review and editorial responsibility.
  4. Preserve relevant machine-readable marking where appropriate.
  5. Create a simple disclosure policy.

Dates and enforcement

The Commission states that Article 50 applies from 2 August 2026. A limited transition to 2 December 2026 concerns Article 50(2) marking and detection for certain systems placed on the market before 2 August. The Commission FAQ states that Article 50 infringements can attract fines up to €15 million or 3% of worldwide annual turnover, with proportionality considerations for SMEs.

Adeo works with content and social media and AI-ready digital communication.

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