In a decisive move on June 29, 2026, the Council of the European Union adopted a sweeping AI omnibus regulation aimed at simplifying the EU’s AI legislative framework while reinforcing protections against harmful content. The package, part of the broader “Omnibus VII” initiative, introduces several key changes:
• A prohibition on AI-generated non-consensual sexual content and child sexual abuse material (CSAM), including nude or manipulated images, effective December 2026. This marks a clear stance that technological progress must not compromise fundamental values. (consilium.europa.eu)
• A postponement of compliance deadlines for high‑risk AI systems: standalone systems now face enforcement starting December 2, 2027, while those embedded in products have until August 2, 2028. (consilium.europa.eu)
• A reduction in the grace period for implementing transparency measures for AI-generated content—from six months to three—setting a new deadline of December 2, 2026. (consilium.europa.eu)
These adjustments aim to balance regulatory rigor with practical implementation timelines, offering businesses more breathing room while accelerating transparency obligations. The regulation also clarifies the supervisory role of the EU’s AI Office in overseeing general-purpose AI models. (consilium.europa.eu)
This development arrives just as the EU’s Code of Practice on marking and labeling AI-generated content—published June 10—is undergoing adequacy assessment by the Commission and the AI Board. The code supports compliance with Article 50 transparency obligations of the AI Act, which become legally binding on August 2, 2026. (digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu)
Taken together, these moves signal the EU’s commitment to a calibrated regulatory approach: enforcing critical protections against harmful AI-generated content while providing industry with clearer timelines and tools to meet transparency obligations.