From August 2, 2026, the obligations of transparència provided for in article 50 of the European Regulation on Artificial Intelligence (RIA). The goal is simple: to let people know when they are interacting with an AI system or when content has been generated or manipulated using this technology.
In practice, this means that some AI systems will need to clearly report when a person is interacting with an artificial intelligence, such as chatbots. Certain AI-generated or manipulated content will also need to be identified, especially so-called deepfakes and some content intended to inform the public on matters of general interest when it has been generated or substantially modified by AI. In addition, providers of systems that generate images, audio, video or other synthetic content must incorporate technical mechanisms so that they can be detected as generated or modified by AI.
These measures do not aim to limit the use of artificial intelligence, but rather to strengthen trust, reduce the risk of deception and make it easier for citizens to interact with these technologies in an informed manner.
At the AOC we have been working in this direction for some time.
For the AOC, the transparència in the use of AI is not new. For years we have been promoting initiatives to guarantee responsible, explainable and human rights-aligned use. This line of work was implemented in 2023 with the launch of the initiative of transparència algorithmic, through which we publish understandable information about the AI systems and other relevant automation we use in our services.
Furthermore, the AOC services directly aimed at citizens that incorporate artificial intelligence already explicitly inform that they are interacting with an AI from the very beginning. This is the case, for example, of the chatbots with generative AI to support citizens, the GuIA assistant on the AOC support portal or the video identification service to obtain theidCAT Mobile. This approach fully coincides with the requirements now established by the European Regulation.
La transparència is also part of governance
New European obligations reinforce the importance of having adequate governance mechanisms. For this reason, the AOC continues to advance its internal AI governance model, progressively incorporating new instruments and procedures to ensure responsible adoption of artificial intelligence.
When an AI system participates in the provision of a public service, in the processing of an administrative procedure or may have a relevant impact on rights, interespeople's situations, we value the preparation of a report transparència algorithm (infoTRAL), which we make public as a mechanism of transparència and accountability and that allows the purpose of the system, its operation, the risks identified and the guarantees adopted to be clearly explained.
On the other hand, for systems with an exclusively internal purpose of supporting staff and without direct impact on citizens or on decisions that affect people, the AOC is deploying a lighter governance model based on AI governance sheets, designed to document and supervise the responsible use of these tools in a proportionate manner.
And what about the suppliers?
La transparència is not only the responsibility of the administrations. The Regulation also imposes obligations on suppliers of AI systems. In this sense, the AOC is already progressively incorporating requirements, guarantees and specific clauses related to artificial intelligence in its procurement processes, with the aim of requiring suppliers to comply with the applicable regulations, including the obligations of transparència provided for by the European Regulation.
The European Commission has recently taken a further step by publishing a first list of more than 180 organisations adhering to the Code of Good Practices on transparència of AI-generated content, an initiative that seeks to facilitate the effective application of these new obligations.
Another step towards trustworthy AI
Artificial intelligence is transforming public services and offers major opportunities to improve their efficiency, accessibility and quality. But this transformation will only be sustainable if it is accompanied by transparència, supervision and trust.
The entry into force of Article 50 of the European AI Regulation representa a new step in this direction. At the AOC we will continue to work so that technological innovation, transparència and the protection of people's rights go hand in hand.
