EU AI Act Article 50 Disclosure Template
Generate your Article 50 disclosure
Your disclosure template
Fill in the form to get your visible disclosure, machine-readable marking and plain-text template.
Article 50 disclosure checklist
Work through these points before you publish AI-generated content to an audience that includes the European Union.
-
Is the content fully or partially AI-generated?
Article 50 transparency duties apply to content that is artificially generated or manipulated. Minor edits (colour correction, cropping) generally do not trigger the duty; substantial generation or alteration does.
-
Does it depict a real, identifiable person, place or event (a "deepfake")?
Deepfake content carries a stricter labelling expectation. The disclosure should make clear the material is synthetic and does not depict reality.
-
Is the visible disclosure shown before or as the user consumes the content?
A disclosure hidden in a footer or behind a click may not satisfy the requirement. Place the label where the user will see it at the point of consumption.
-
Is the disclosure also machine-readable (embedded metadata)?
The AI Act expects markings to be detectable by automated systems. Embedding IPTC / C2PA-style metadata in the file complements the visible badge.
-
Is the marking robust and not trivially removable?
Where technically feasible, the marking should be reasonably durable. Embedded metadata plus a visible badge together provide stronger coverage than either alone.
-
Have you kept a record of which tool and version produced the content?
Maintaining an internal record (model name, date, operator) helps demonstrate good-faith compliance if questioned.
A practical, free template for disclosing AI-generated content under Article 50 of the EU AI Act — generated for your specific content type, with both a human-visible label and machine-readable marking.
What Article 50 of the EU AI Act requires
Article 50 sets transparency obligations for certain AI systems. They apply regardless of whether a system is classified as high-risk, and they become applicable on 2 August 2026. For generative AI systems already on the market before that date, the machine-readable marking obligation has a later deadline of 2 December 2026. Two parts of the Article matter most for anyone publishing AI-generated content:
- Article 50(2) — machine-readable marking. Providers of generative AI systems must ensure outputs are marked in a machine-readable format and detectable as artificially generated or manipulated. The technical solution must be effective, interoperable, robust and reliable.
- Article 50(4) — deepfake disclosure. Deployers who publish AI-generated or manipulated image, audio or video content that is a deepfake must disclose that the content is artificially generated. This disclosure must be directly perceivable by a person — a visible label, overlay or audio cue — not only a machine-readable mark.
Why a single watermark is not enough
A common misunderstanding is that an embedded watermark covers everything. The Commission's draft guidelines, published on 8 May 2026, make the distinction clear: a machine-readable mark applied upstream does not, on its own, satisfy the deepfake disclosure duty. The robust approach is two layers — a visible disclosure the audience can perceive without any tool, and machine-readable marking embedded in the file. The generator on this page produces both.
How to use this Article 50 disclosure template
- Select your content type — image, video, audio or text.
- Indicate whether the content is a deepfake of a real, identifiable person.
- Add the deployer name so it is recorded in the marking.
- For images, upload the JPEG or PNG to embed machine-readable marking directly into the file.
- Copy the visible disclosure badge and plain-text template into your publication.
Exceptions worth knowing
The obligation does not apply to AI used only for minor, assistive editing that does not substantially alter content — routine grammar correction or colour adjustment, for example. There is a carve-out for use authorised by law to detect, prevent, investigate or prosecute crime. And where content forms part of an evidently artistic, creative, satirical or fictional work, the disclosure may be made in a more attenuated, non-intrusive manner — for instance in the credits — so it does not spoil the work.
Guidance is still being finalised
The Commission's implementation guidelines are in draft, with a stakeholder consultation open until 3 June 2026, and a related Code of Practice on marking and labelling is being finalised. The sensible approach is to build to the legal text of Article 50 now and adjust when the final guidance is published. The wording produced by this tool is reviewed and updated as guidance develops — see the status note above.
For background, read our plain-English explainer of Article 50 and the guide on how to write an AI usage disclosure.
This page is general information, not legal advice. It may not reflect the most recent changes to draft guidance. Consult a qualified lawyer for your organisation's specific obligations.
Article 50 disclosure — frequently asked questions
What is an EU AI Act Article 50 disclosure template?
It is a ready-made wording and format for telling audiences that content is AI-generated, structured to address the transparency obligations in Article 50 of the EU AI Act. A complete approach combines a human-visible disclosure with machine-readable marking embedded in the file.
When does Article 50 apply?
The Article 50 transparency obligations become applicable on 2 August 2026. For generative AI systems already on the market before that date, the machine-readable marking obligation has a later deadline of 2 December 2026. New systems released after 2 August 2026 must comply immediately.
Does a machine-readable watermark alone satisfy Article 50?
No. Article 50(2) covers machine-readable marking by providers, while Article 50(4) requires deployers to give a directly human-perceivable disclosure for deepfakes — a visible label, overlay or audio cue. The Commission draft guidelines make clear that an upstream machine-readable mark does not, on its own, discharge the deepfake disclosure duty. Both layers are needed.
Is the Article 50 guidance final?
Not yet. The Commission published draft implementation guidelines on 8 May 2026, with a consultation open until 3 June 2026, and a related Code of Practice on marking and labelling is being finalised. Build to the legal text of Article 50 now and adjust when the final guidance is published. This page is kept up to date as guidance develops.
Are there exceptions to the disclosure requirement?
Yes. Minor or purely assistive editing that does not substantially alter content is generally outside the obligation, as is use authorised by law for detecting or prosecuting crime. For content that is evidently artistic, creative, satirical or fictional, the disclosure may be made in a more attenuated, non-intrusive manner.
Is this template and generator free?
Yes. The template and generator are completely free, with no signup. All processing happens in your browser and uploaded files are never sent to a server.
Need the main tool?
Use the full AI content disclosure generator, or read the guides for deeper background on AI transparency rules.
Open the AI Content Disclosure Generator → Browse the guides