European Union transparency requirements for artificial intelligence systems take effect on Aug. 2, obliging providers and users to clearly label AI-generated content across the bloc. The rules, part of the AI Act that entered into force in August 2024, carry fines of up to 15 million euros or 3 percent of global annual turnover for violations.
Chatbots must identify themselves as AI, while synthetic images and text require machine-readable watermarks embedded by providers. Users must also be informed when exposed to deepfakes, AI-generated content on matters of public interest produced without human review, and emotion-recognition systems. The obligations apply to professional use; artistic, satirical, and creative works are exempt, and purely personal AI use is unaffected.