Commission publishes Article 50 transparency guidelines before 2 August
The guidelines went live on 20 July with an FAQ. Providers that do not sign the code must show compliance through alternative equivalently adequate means; fines reach €15m or 3% of worldwide turnover.
What this basis means: Regulatory filing, government body, court or industry association.
The European Commission's page for guidelines on transparency of AI-generated content is now published, carrying a last update of 20 July 2026, with downloadable "Guidelines on transparency obligations for providers and deployers of AI systems" and an accompanying FAQ of the same date.
Providers and deployers that do not join the code of practice must demonstrate labelling compliance "through alternative equivalently adequate means". Penalties run to €15m or 3% of worldwide turnover. Systems placed on the market before 2 August are covered until 2 December 2026.
The Article 50 stack is therefore complete ahead of the 2 August application date: code published 10 June, adequacy 8 and 9 July, guidelines 20 July. The initial signatory list, with a cut-off of 22 July 2026, 18:00 CEST, had not been published.
Separately, the Commission's Digital Services Act enforcement record lists a fine of €550 million on AliExpress dated 20 July 2026, the newest after Temu at €200m and X at €120m. It is not microdrama-specific, but it is the background against which the addictive-design cases against Meta on 10 July and TikTok on 6 February sit.
Companies AliExpress, Temu, X, Meta, TikTok
Tracked instrument EU AI Act, Article 50 (transparency obligations for AI-generated content), EU Digital Services Act
Sources
- Guidelines on transparency obligations for providers and deployers of AI systems (opens in a new tab) European Commission
- European Commission