The Cyberspace Administration of China, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Public Security, and the State Administration of Radio and Television jointly formulated the "Measures for Identifying AI-Generated Synthetic Content." This new regulation aims to address the societal problems arising from the proliferation of AI-generated content, particularly the spread of misinformation, which affects the public's right to know and legitimate rights and interests.
The Measures clearly stipulate that all AI-generated synthetic content, including text, audio, images, and videos, must be conspicuously marked in an appropriate location. This measure will effectively protect the legitimate rights and interests of citizens, legal persons, and other organizations, and maintain public interests. Specific requirements are as follows:
Measures for Identifying AI-Generated Synthetic Content
Article 1: To promote the healthy development of artificial intelligence, regulate the identification of AI-generated synthetic content, protect the legitimate rights and interests of citizens, legal persons, and other organizations, and maintain public interests, these Measures are formulated in accordance with the Cybersecurity Law of the People's Republic of China, the Provisions on the Administration of Algorithm Recommendations for Internet Information Services, the Provisions on the Administration of Deep Synthesis of Internet Information Services, the Interim Measures for the Administration of Generative Artificial Intelligence Services, and other laws, administrative regulations, and departmental rules and regulations.
Article 2: Network information service providers (hereinafter referred to as "service providers") that meet the conditions stipulated in the Provisions on the Administration of Algorithm Recommendations for Internet Information Services, the Provisions on the Administration of Deep Synthesis of Internet Information Services, and the Interim Measures for the Administration of Generative Artificial Intelligence Services shall apply these Measures when engaging in the identification of AI-generated synthetic content.
Article 3: AI-generated synthetic content refers to information such as text, images, audio, video, and virtual scenes generated or synthesized using artificial intelligence technology.
The identification of AI-generated synthetic content includes explicit and implicit identification.
Explicit identification refers to identification added to the generated synthetic content or interactive scene interface, presented in the form of text, sound, graphics, etc., and clearly perceptible to the user.
Implicit identification refers to identification added to the generated synthetic content file data through technical measures, which is not easily perceptible to the user.
Article 4: If the generation and synthesis services provided by service providers fall under the circumstances of Article 17, Paragraph 1 of the Provisions on the Administration of Deep Synthesis of Internet Information Services, they shall add explicit identification to the generated and synthesized content according to the following requirements:
(1) Add text prompts or universal symbol prompts to the beginning, end, or appropriate position in the middle of the text, or add conspicuous prompt marks to the interactive scene interface or around the text;
(2) Add voice prompts or audio rhythm prompts to the beginning, end, or appropriate position in the middle of the audio, or add conspicuous prompt marks to the interactive scene interface;
(3) Add conspicuous prompt marks to the appropriate position of the image;
(4) Add conspicuous prompt marks to the appropriate position of the starting screen and around the video playback, and conspicuous prompt marks can be added to the appropriate position at the end and middle of the video;
(5) When presenting virtual scenes, add conspicuous prompt marks to the appropriate position of the starting screen, and conspicuous prompt marks can be added to the appropriate position during the continuous service process of the virtual scene;
(6) Other generation and synthesis service scenarios shall add conspicuous prompt marks according to their own application characteristics.
When service providers provide functions such as downloading, copying, and exporting generated and synthesized content, they shall ensure that the file contains explicit identification that meets the requirements.
Article 5: Service providers shall add implicit identification to the file metadata of the generated and synthesized content in accordance with the provisions of Article 16 of the Provisions on the Administration of Deep Synthesis of Internet Information Services. The implicit identification includes information on the attributes of the generated and synthesized content, the name or code of the service provider, and the content number and other production elements.
Service providers are encouraged to add implicit identification in the form of digital watermarks to 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 file source, attributes, and purpose.
Article 6: Service providers that provide network information content dissemination services shall take the following measures to regulate the dissemination of generated and synthesized content:
(1) Verify whether the file metadata contains implicit identification. If the file metadata clearly indicates that it is generated and synthesized content, adopt appropriate methods to add conspicuous prompt marks around the published content to clearly remind the public that the content is generated and synthesized content;
(2) If implicit identification is not verified in the file metadata, but the user declares it as generated and synthesized content, adopt appropriate methods to add conspicuous prompt marks around the published content to remind the public that the content may be generated and synthesized content;
(3) If implicit identification is not verified in the file metadata, and the user has not declared it as generated and synthesized content, but the service provider providing network information content dissemination services detects explicit identification or other traces of generation and synthesis, identify it as suspected generated and synthesized content, and adopt appropriate methods to add conspicuous prompt marks around the published content to remind the public that the content is suspected to be generated and synthesized content;
(4) Provide necessary identification functions and remind users to proactively declare whether the published content contains generated and synthesized content.
In the cases of subparagraphs (1) to (3) above, information on the attributes of the generated and synthesized content, the name or code of the dissemination platform, and the content number and other dissemination elements shall be added to the file metadata.
Article 7: Internet application distribution platforms shall require internet application service providers to explain whether they provide AI-generated synthetic services when applications are put on the shelves or undergo online review. If internet application service providers provide AI-generated synthetic services, internet application distribution platforms shall verify their identification materials related to generated and synthesized content.
Article 8: Service providers shall clearly state the methods and styles of identifying generated and synthesized content in their user service agreements, and remind users to carefully read and understand the relevant identification management requirements.
Article 9: If a user applies to a service provider for generated and synthesized content without explicit identification, the service provider may provide generated and synthesized content without explicit identification after clarifying the user's identification obligations and use responsibilities through the user agreement, and shall legally retain relevant logs, including the information of the provider, for no less than six months.
Article 10: Users who publish generated and synthesized content using network information content dissemination services shall proactively declare and use the identification functions provided by the service provider for identification.
No organization or individual shall maliciously delete, alter, forge, or conceal the identification of generated and synthesized content stipulated in these Measures, provide tools or services for others to engage in the above-mentioned malicious acts, or damage the legitimate rights and interests of others through improper identification methods.
Article 11: When service providers carry out identification activities, they shall also comply with the requirements of relevant laws, administrative regulations, departmental rules and regulations, and mandatory national standards.
Article 12: When service providers perform procedures such as algorithm registration and security assessment, they shall provide relevant materials for the identification of generated and synthesized content in accordance with these Measures, and strengthen the sharing of identification information to provide support and assistance for preventing and combating related illegal and criminal activities.
Article 13: Violations of these Measures shall be handled by the relevant competent authorities such as the Cyberspace Administration, telecommunications, public security, and radio and television, in accordance with their responsibilities and in accordance with the provisions of relevant laws, administrative regulations, and departmental rules and regulations.
Article 14: These Measures shall come into effect on September 1, 2025.