As of August 2, 2026, the European Commission’s AI Office and national authorities are starting the enforcement of the AI Act, introducing strict transparency and oversight obligations.
Under the new rules, AI systems are now required to inform users whenever they are interacting with AI (e.g., chatbots). Deepfakes (images, video, audio) must be clearly labeled, while AI-generated content will carry special machine-readable marks for easier detection.
These measures aim to reduce deception and manipulation, helping citizens make informed choices. They also provide businesses with clearer obligations and a practical way to demonstrate compliance with the AI Act. Additionally, the Commission published an initial list of more than 180 organizations that have signed the code of practice on transparency for AI-generated content.
The AI Office can enforce the AI Act rules for general-purpose AI (GPAI) model providers. The rules also cover the most advanced GPAI models that may pose systemic risks. Their providers must meet additional obligations to address large-scale harm risks, such as risks linked to chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear incidents, loss of control, cyberattacks, harmful manipulation, and threats to fundamental rights.
Furthermore, all providers of GPAI models must implement a copyright policy and publish a sufficiently detailed summary of the content used to train their models.
Enforcement responsibility is shared among the AI Office, national authorities, and the European Data Protection Supervisor. Effective enforcement will also depend on Member States ensuring that national competent authorities are properly designated and adequately resourced.
To support implementation, dedicated and confidential complaint and reporting tools are now available for individuals, legal entities, and whistleblowers. The full implementation framework will be completed gradually, with new prohibitions taking effect in December 2026 and rules for high-risk systems postponed to 2027 – 2028.
Read more in the Commission’s press release here.