AI Transparency · 2026
AI disclosure rules for YouTube in the European Union
Yes — publishing realistic AI-generated or AI-edited content on YouTube in the European Union can legally require a disclosure. Here is what applies and the exact wording to use.
YouTube requires disclosing realistic altered or synthetic content
When you upload content that is realistic and was meaningfully altered or generated with AI, you must tick 'Altered or synthetic content' in YouTube Studio. YouTube then shows a label in the description (and a more prominent label on the video for sensitive topics like health, news, elections, finance). Clearly unrealistic, animated, or trivially-edited content is exempt.
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EU AI Act Art. 50 — transparency for AI-generated & deepfake content
Article 50 of the EU AI Act sets transparency duties: providers must mark AI outputs in a machine-readable way; deployers of deepfakes must clearly disclose that the content is artificially generated/manipulated; AI-generated text published to inform the public on matters of public interest must be disclosed; and users must be told when they interact with an AI system (chatbots). Transparency obligations apply from 2 Aug 2026.
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YouTube in other regions
Other platforms in the European Union
Disclosa provides informational tooling, not legal advice. Rules change frequently and vary by context. Always verify against the official source and consult a qualified professional for your case.