# European AI Icon: Unified labeling for all AI-generated content > The European Union is introducing a common icon to signal all content generated or modified by AI. The second draft of the Code of Practice, published on March 5, 2026, eliminates the distinction between fully AI and AI-assisted content: labeling will now be identical. - Tags: icône ia europe, étiquetage contenu ia, label ia obligatoire, code de pratique transparence ia, conformité AI Act, transparence contenus générés IA, Article 50, obligations IA 2026 - Main keyword: icône ia europe ## Key points - The 2nd draft of the Code of Practice, published on March 5, 2026, presents a European AI icon and provides for the creation of a dedicated task force for its development. - The distinction between "fully AI-generated" and "AI-assisted" content disappears: all AI content will be signaled in the same way. - The project simplifies compliance, encourages open standards, and grants more flexibility to signatories. - Consultation open until March 30, 2026, final version expected in June, and entry into force of obligations on August 2, 2026. ## Introduction The European Union is preparing to introduce a standardized visual label for all content generated or modified by artificial intelligence. This major development was made official with the publication, on March 5, 2026, of the second draft of the Code of Practice on the marking of AI content. This text goes far beyond the first version by proposing a single identification system, without distinction between "fully AI" and "AI-assisted" content. ## Content ## Towards a harmonized European AI signage The first draft, presented in December 2025, distinguished between two categories: content created exclusively by AI and content where AI only assisted a human. This two-tier approach quickly raised questions, particularly regarding copyright protection: content labeled "fully AI" risked losing this protection. The second draft, developed from hundreds of contributions from industrial, academic, and civil society stakeholders, makes a clear decision: the taxonomy is abolished. From now on, all content falling under the scope of Article 50 of Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 will be subject to the same labeling regime, regardless of the degree of human intervention. ### Three major changes introduced - **Removal of the full/assisted AI distinction**: whether an image is generated from scratch or simply modified by AI, the same label applies. - **Promotion of open standards**: the Code recommends the adoption of open formats for technical marking to reduce costs and ensure interoperability. - **Streamlined compliance**: the new version consolidates measures, makes certain elements optional, and grants signatories more flexibility to adapt solutions to their context. ## First models of the European AI icon For the first time, the draft's annex presents visual examples of a European icon, which will be made available free of charge to signatory organizations. A dedicated task force will be created to design an interactive and harmonized icon at the EU level. The provisional version proposes a symbol featuring the acronym "AI" (or its local equivalent, such as "IA" in French or "KI" in German). This icon must meet several criteria: - **Appear at the first point of exposure** of the content to the public - **Be placed consistently** in a fixed location, adapted to the medium - **Respect European accessibility standards** The precise modalities (dimensions, colors, placement) will be the subject of discussions during upcoming workshops. The goal is clear: eventually, all content generated or modified by AI in Europe must be accompanied by an easily identifiable visual indicator. ## Consequences of the taxonomy removal Unifying the label simplifies compliance but raises new challenges for users and creators. ### Creators: fear of stigmatization A photographer using a generative fill function and an editor publishing entirely synthetic images will both have to display the same label. This generalization may be perceived as a stigmatization of any AI usage, without distinction regarding the intensity of human intervention. ### Companies: welcome clarification The previous taxonomy raised many practical challenges: how to measure the share of human intervention? Who decides on the qualification? By removing these categories, the Code eliminates these uncertainties and reduces the risk of misjudgment. ### Copyright: increased security The issue of losing protection for "fully AI" content is no longer relevant. From now on, the label only indicates that an AI was used, without prejudging the degree of originality or the human share, which remain evaluated according to copyright law. ## Specific regime for artistic and editorial works The text also refines the treatment of works of an artistic, creative, satirical, or fictional nature. While these contents are not exempt from labeling, they benefit from lighter modalities, taking into account existing professional practices for disclosing origin. Texts subject to human editorial control (proofreading and editorial validation) also benefit from an adapted regime: newsrooms that integrate AI into their process while maintaining human validation will be able to rely on their internal procedures to comply. ## Implementation timeline: key deadlines - **March 5, 2026**: Publication of the second draft of the Code of Practice - **March 30, 2026**: Closing of the public consultation - **June 2026**: Adoption of the final version of the Code - **August 2, 2026**: Entry into force of the transparency obligations provided for in Article 50 of the AI Act Adherence to the Code of Practice remains voluntary, but it will establish itself as a compliance standard. Companies that deviate from it expose themselves to reinforced monitoring by the European AI Office and national authorities. > Does your organization use generative AI to produce content? > > The free compaia diagnostic > > allows you to identify, in three minutes, whether you are a provider or deployer within the meaning of the AI Act, and which transparency obligations apply to you. ## Official source - [Source](https://www.aiacto.eu/fr/blog/icone-ia-europe-etiquetage-contenu-genere-ia)