Starting from September 1st, AI-generated synthetic content must be marked

The Cyberspace Administration of China, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Public Security, and the National Radio and Television Administration have formulated the “Measures for Marking AI-Generated Synthetic Content”. The measures consist of 14 articles and will come into effect on September 1st this year.

In recent years, the rapid development of artificial intelligence technology has provided convenient tools for generating and synthesizing text, images, audio, video, and other information. Massive amounts of information can be quickly generated and synthesized and spread on network platforms. While promoting economic and social development, it has also led to problems such as the abuse of generation and synthesis technology and the intensified spread of false information, which has drawn the attention and concern of all sectors of society.

The “Marking Measures” focus on the key point of “marking AI-generated synthetic content”. By marking, it reminds users to distinguish false information, clarifies the marking responsibilities and obligations of relevant service providers, standardizes marking behaviors in all links of content production and dissemination, and improves security at a reasonable cost. It promotes the accelerated application of artificial intelligence in various scenarios such as text dialogue, content production, and auxiliary design. At the same time, it reduces the harm caused by the abuse of AI generation and synthesis technology and prevents the risk of using AI technology to produce and disseminate false information, promoting the healthy and orderly development of artificial intelligence.

AI-generated synthetic content refers to information such as text, images, audio, video, and virtual scenes generated and synthesized using artificial intelligence technology. The marking of AI-generated synthetic content includes explicit marking and implicit marking.

Explicit marking refers to the addition of marks in the form of text, sound, graphics, etc. in the generated and synthesized content or interaction scene interface, which can be clearly perceived by users.

Implicit marking refers to the addition of marks through technical measures in the file data of the generated and synthesized content, which are not easily perceived by users.

■ Add explicit marking to generated and synthesized content

When the generated and synthesized services provided by service providers fall under the circumstances stipulated in Article 17, Paragraph 1 of the “Regulations on the Management of Deep Synthesis of Internet Information Services”, they shall add explicit marking to the generated and synthesized content in accordance with the following requirements:

– Add text or general symbol prompts or other marks at the beginning, end, or appropriate position in the middle of the text, or add prominent prompt marks around the text in the interaction scene interface;

– Add voice prompts or audio rhythm prompts or other marks at the beginning, end, or appropriate position in the middle of the audio, or add prominent prompt marks in the interaction scene interface;

– Add prominent prompt marks at appropriate positions in the image;

– Add prominent prompt marks at appropriate positions in the beginning picture and around the video playback of the video, and can add prominent prompt marks at the end and appropriate positions in the middle of the video;

– When presenting virtual scenes, add prominent prompt marks at appropriate positions in the beginning picture, and can add prominent prompt marks at appropriate positions during the continuous service process of the virtual scene;

– Add prominent prompt marks in other generated and synthesized service scenarios according to their own application characteristics.

When service providers provide functions such as downloading, copying, and exporting of generated and synthesized content, they shall ensure that the files contain explicit markings that meet the requirements.

■ Add implicit marking in the file metadata of generated and synthesized content

Service providers shall add implicit marking in the file metadata of generated and synthesized content in accordance with the provisions of Article 16 of the “Regulations on the Management of Deep Synthesis of Internet Information Services”. The implicit marking includes the attribute information of the generated and synthesized content, the name or code of the service provider, the content number, and other production element information.

It is encouraged for service providers to add implicit marking in the form of digital watermarks in the generated and synthesized content. File metadata refers to descriptive information embedded in the file header according to a specific encoding format, used to record information such as the source, attributes, and purpose of the file.

Details of the video is here:

https://tv.cctv.com/2025/03/14/VIDERiOBbB9OrMHojzzRibUQ250314.shtml