Topic dossier
Where AI-generated images, video, audio and text must be disclosed, watermarked or removed — the binding rules and the proposals. 9 obligations across 7 jurisdictions — 7 in force. Next dated deadline: 2 Aug 2026.
A fast-moving cluster of laws now requires AI-generated and manipulated media to be labelled, watermarked or disclosed. They divide into two families: provenance rules that mark content at creation — a visible label plus embedded metadata or a watermark — and platform duties to take down non-consensual or deceptive synthetic media. The obligations below are the instruments AI Law Radar tracks under this theme, each linked to its primary source and dated to its last check.
Binds Providers & deployers of interactive, synthetic-content or biometric AI. Disclosure of AI interaction; marking of AI-generated content.
Stated maximum penalty — Up to 3% turnover or €15M
Binds Anyone publishing non-consensual intimate imagery; covered online platforms (notice-and-removal). Bans non-consensual intimate imagery incl. AI deepfakes; covered platforms must remove within 48h (notice-and-removal duty live 19 May 2026).
Stated maximum penalty — FTC enforcement; criminal penalties
Binds Covered GenAI providers with >1M monthly users accessible in California. AI-detection tool + content provenance for >1M-user providers.
Stated maximum penalty — Civil penalties per violation/day
Binds Deep-synthesis service providers, technical supporters, and users. Conspicuous labelling and consent for synthetic media / deepfakes.
Stated maximum penalty — Rectification, suspension, criminal referral
Binds AI-content service & propagation platforms, app stores, and users. Explicit (visible) and implicit (metadata/watermark) labels on AI-generated content.
Stated maximum penalty — CAC administrative penalties
Binds AI business operators offering AI products/services in Korea (extraterritorial). Pre-notify users that a service uses AI; label generative and realistic synthetic outputs.
MSIT enforcement grace period through ~2026.
Stated maximum penalty — Admin fine up to ₩30M
Binds Providers / deployers of generative AI and user-facing AI systems. Machine-readable labels on AI media; disclose when users interact with AI; deceptive deepfakes banned.
Stated maximum penalty — Admin fines (decree-set)
Binds Intermediaries, significant social-media intermediaries (5M+ users), GenAI tool providers. Permanent labels on AI-generated media + rapid takedown; significant-platform traceability.
Stated maximum penalty — Loss of safe harbour; IT Act offences
Binds Employers / producers using performers’ voice or image via AI; performer contracts. Prior written consent + remuneration to clone or simulate a performer’s voice or image.
Published in the DOF 14 May 2026; in force 15 May 2026.
Stated maximum penalty — Civil/authorial + labour liability
It depends where the content is seen. The EU AI Act (Article 50), China’s labelling rules, South Korea’s AI Basic Act, Vietnam’s Law on AI and India’s IT Rules all require AI-generated or synthetic media to be disclosed or marked; the exact form — a visible label, embedded metadata, or a watermark — varies by instrument. Each row above links to the controlling text.
Article 50 requires providers and deployers to disclose AI interaction and to mark AI-generated or manipulated audio, image, video and text — including deepfakes — in a machine-readable way. Its transparency obligations are dated 2 August 2026.
Most jurisdictions do not ban synthetic media outright; they require it to be labelled and forbid specific harmful uses. Non-consensual intimate imagery is the clearest exception — the US TAKE IT DOWN Act and the EU’s new Article 5 prohibition target it directly.
We currently track deepfakes & content labelling obligations across 7 jurisdictions: European Union, United States, China, South Korea, Vietnam, India and Mexico. Each is dated and linked to its primary source on this page.
Not legal advice. Each obligation links to its primary source and carries the date it was last checked; verify the legal text before relying on it.