Compliance

Manifest disclosure

Visible, human-readable AI content labeling.

How the laws define this

Both source texts establish that a manifest disclosure must be a clear, conspicuous, and human-readable notice informing users that content was produced, generated, or significantly altered by an artificial intelligence system. They concur that these indicators must be easily understood by people encountering the content to clearly identify its artificial origins. However, the instruments diverge on the specific scope of the underlying technology and formatting details. Under California SB 942 — California AI Transparency Act, the disclosure specifically applies to generative AI systems and explicitly requires a visible label that is appropriate for the medium and understandable to a reasonable person. Conversely, the general California AI Transparency Act formulation frames these disclosures more broadly around any artificial intelligence system, emphasizing that the notices themselves must be easily perceived, recognized, or understood, without explicitly restricting the scope to generative models or specifying that labels be tailored to the specific medium.

Synthesised from the 2 statutory definitions below. Each one is quoted in full, with its source.

How jurisdictions differ

What is distinctive in each definition, binding law in force first.

Jurisdiction	Instrument	Status	What is distinctive
California, United States	California SB 942 — California AI Transparency Act	In Force (Amended)	This definition adds that labels must be clear, conspicuous, appropriate for the medium, and understandable to a reasonable person, while focusing on notifying users of production or alteration by generative AI.
California, United States	California AI Transparency Act	In Force (Amended)	This definition widens to notices that are easily perceived, understood, or recognized, and explicitly includes content significantly altered by any artificial intelligence system.

What it triggers

In California, under the California AI Transparency Act, large generative AI providers must offer free AI detection tools and embed content provenance disclosures.source
Under the California AI Transparency Act, generative AI providers and platforms must embed disclosures in synthetic content.source

Definitions (2)

A visible, human-readable label on AI-generated content that notifies users the content was produced or altered by a generative AI system; labels must be clear, conspicuous, appropriate for the medium, and understandable to a reasonable person.

California SB 942 — California AI Transparency ActDefinition 1 of 2

Manifest disclosures are easily perceived, understood, or recognized human-readable notices. These are clear, conspicuous, and understandable indicators that identify content as having been generated or significantly altered by an artificial intelligence system.

California AI Transparency ActDefinition 2 of 2

Not to be confused with

Explicit identification

Explicit identification refers to human-perceptible labels or prompts indicating synthetic origin, while manifest disclosure specifies clear, conspicuous notices for AI-generated or altered content.

Clear and conspicuous disclosure

Clear and conspicuous disclosure requires visibility for visual media and audible speech for audio-only, whereas manifest disclosure emphasizes easily perceived and understood human-readable notices.

Questions and answers

What makes a label count as manifest disclosure under California law?

It must be a visible, human-readable label that is clear, conspicuous, appropriate for the medium, and understandable to a reasonable person. Alternatively, it is an easily perceived, understood, or recognized notice identifying AI-generated or significantly altered content.

When did the California AI Transparency Act take effect?

The law is in force (amended) since January 1, 2026.