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China's mandatory labelling rules for AI-generated content take effect
Measures issued by the CAC with MIIT, the Ministry of Public Security and NRTA came into force on 1 September 2025. AI services must attach visible labels to generated text, audio, images, video and virtual scenes and embed hidden metadata naming the provider and a content ID; distribution platforms must check metadata and flag confirmed, declared or suspected AI content, and app stores must verify labelling compliance.
Why it matters
Every generative AI service and content platform operating in China now has to apply both visible labels and machine-readable provenance, a model later echoed in India and the EU.
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Directly linked
Connections our researchers recorded
- DevelopmentEU finalises code of practice on marking and labelling AI-generated content10 Jun 2026 · Policy · EUContrasts with: The EU uses a voluntary code to meet a legal duty; China imposed binding labelling measures directly.
- DevelopmentIndia notifies IT Rules amendment mandating deepfake labels and 3-hour takedowns10 Feb 2026 · Rule change · INContrasts with: Both mandate visible labels plus embedded metadata; India ties compliance to safe harbour and fast takedown.
What happened next
Later developments on the same thread
- DevelopmentHKMA picks 27 use cases from 20 banks for second GenAI sandbox cohort15 Oct 2025 · Programme · HK
- DevelopmentBrazil's electoral court sets AI rules for 2026 elections, incl. 72-hour deepfake ban2 Mar 2026 · Rule change · BR
- DevelopmentSAG-AFTRA ratifies four-year studio deal restricting synthetic performers4 Jun 2026 · Deal · US
- DevelopmentGoogle DeepMind publishes SynthID Bio watermarking for AI-designed proteins in Nature30 Sep 2026 · Research · GB, US
Same story elsewhere
What other countries and bodies did on this
- DevelopmentOpenAI starts watermarking ChatGPT and Codex text in the EU to meet AI Act rules5 Oct 2026 · Launch · EU
- DevelopmentEU Digital Omnibus on AI enters force, delaying high-risk AI Act duties to 2027-2827 Jul 2026 · Rule change · EU
- DevelopmentSouth Korea's AI Basic Act takes effect, with a one-year pause on fines22 Jan 2026 · Rule change · KR
- DevelopmentEU AI Office gains powers to enforce AI Act rules on general-purpose models2 Aug 2026 · Rule change · EU
Rules in play
Laws and guidance this touches
- RuleDeep Synthesis ProvisionsCN · In force · 25 Nov 2022
- RuleAIGC Labelling MeasuresCN · In force · 7 Mar 2025
- RuleGB 45438-2025 labelling standardCN · In force · 28 Feb 2025
- RuleGenerative AI MeasuresCN · In force · 10 Jul 2023
- RuleIT Rules SGI/deepfake amendmentIN · In force · 10 Feb 2026
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