Google Mandates Generative AI Disclosure for Advertisers
Google will require advertisers to disclose the use of generative AI in ad creation and editing starting July 9, 2026. New labels will appear on ads in Search, YouTube, and Discover.
Google announced that advertisers will be required to disclose when generative artificial intelligence has been used to create or edit their ads. The new policy, effective July 9, 2026, aims to enhance transparency in digital advertising.
A new "How this ad was made" section will be added to the "My Ad Center" panel for ads displayed on Google Search, YouTube, and Discover. This label will indicate if generative AI was involved. Ads generated using Google's native AI tools will be automatically labeled. Advertisers using third-party AI tools will need to manually indicate AI usage.
The move addresses the growing integration of generative AI in advertising and increasing pressure for platforms to identify synthetic media. Google also cited regulatory trends, such as the EU's AI Act, as a factor. The company reiterated that misleading ads remain prohibited, regardless of AI involvement.
These new disclosures supplement existing safeguards like Google's SynthID technology, which embeds imperceptible digital signals into AI-generated content. Previous policies only mandated disclosures for AI-generated political ads.
Details regarding enforcement for advertisers who fail to self-disclose, a precise definition of "edited with AI," and the specific appearance of on-ad labels in various markets remain undisclosed. A global rollout timeline has also not been specified.