AI content disclosure laws
Four regulations now require AI-generated media to carry a disclosure that survives being shared. Here is what each one actually asks for.
India IT Rules
In effect · Feb 20, 2026 · India
Synthetically generated content on social platforms must be clearly and prominently labelled, with provenance metadata preserved.
What it means for youSB 942
In effect · Aug 2, 2026 · California, USA
Large GenAI providers must embed a hidden, permanent watermark in AI-generated image, audio, and video — and run a free public detection tool.
What it means for youEU AI Act
In effect · Aug 2, 2026 · European Union
Providers must mark AI-generated audio, image, video, and text in a machine-readable format; deepfakes and AI chat must be disclosed to users.
What it means for youAB 853
Phasing in · 2027 → 2028 · California, USA
Extends the AI Transparency Act beyond model makers — onto large online platforms, then onto capture devices like cameras and phones.
What it means for youThe one thing they all have in common
Every one of these laws asks for a disclosure that stays with the file after it is shared, cropped or re-encoded — and, in California's case, for a free public tool that reads it back. You can check a file against Verda's detector right now, or read how the watermarking itself works.