Starting in September 2025, China is rolling out a new regulation that requires all content generated by artificial intelligence (AI) to be clearly identified. This move is part of a broader effort by the government to tackle misinformation and boost transparency in digital spaces. It’s a significant step, and if you’re involved in AI content creation, it’s something you’ll need to pay attention to.
The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), along with support from other key ministries, announced these regulations. They’re pretty straightforward: any AI-generated text, images, audio, video, or virtual content must have explicit labels. These labels should be easy for users to spot, and digital watermarks will be used as hidden markers in the metadata. It’s a two-pronged approach to ensure clarity and traceability.
For companies working with AI content, this means complying with these new standards and sticking to existing cybersecurity regulations. You’ll need to verify AI-generated content before it goes live and make sure the necessary labels are applied. If the metadata doesn’t show AI involvement but the content looks like it’s AI-generated, it should be flagged. It’s all about maintaining integrity and trust online.
App distribution platforms also have a role to play. They’ll need to evaluate AI-related features before giving services the green light. It’s a collective effort to keep online content reliable and trustworthy.
