European Union wants to ban AI-created images and video in official messaging

Date:
Wed, 01 Apr 2026 12:05:00 +0000

Description:
The European Union seeks to ban AI-generated images and videos (deepfakes) in official political communications to assert trust.

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now subscribed Your newsletter sign-up was successful Join the club Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards. Explore An account already exists for this email address, please log in. Subscribe to our newsletter EU reckons it could assert trust and authenticity by removing AI-generated content The bloc is also drafting a
code of practice to protect citizens Blocking AI altogether might not be the best move, though The European Union is reportedly considering a ban on AI-generated images and videos otherwise known as deepfakes in official communications.

According to new Politico reporting, with ongoing geopolitical tensions rising, elections running their courses and further public announcements,
it's believed the focus would be to protect trust in government messaging. It's unclear whether the rule would ban AI-generated content that mimics official people or places, or whether it would apply to all images and videos in political communications. Article continues below You may like EU Parliament bans AI use on government work devices as security fears rise 'No company can stop nude AI images' British AI bans under-18s and images You probably think you can spot an AI fake research suggests you cant EU considers a ban on AI deepfakes As it stands, politicians and policymakers
are already voicing concerns over AI's impact on democracy, with many worried fake content could undermine authentic news.

However, a blanket ban might not be truly effective. While fully banning deepfakes suggests all EU communications are legitimate, it doesn't stamp out deepfakes appearing on third-party platforms (particularly social media). A further seal of approval to verify the authenticity of any EU communications could also help on this front but that's not included within current proposals.

There are also calls for AI-generated content to be labelled more clearly as policymakers see the technology as a growing disinformation threat, particularly in global politics.

Separately, Europe is also looking to control the harmful uses of generative AI. The bloc's AI Office has already started to draft a code of practice, which independent experts will continue to build on. Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed! Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

As for the proposed ban, though, the rules are still being shaped and will need to be agreed before becoming law.

However, some experts have criticized Europe for being so harsh in the rules it set out that it could risk falling behind other nations. "Responsible use beats abstinence, OECD advisor Walter Pasquarelli wrote (via Politico ). Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the
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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/pro/european-union-wants-to-ban-ai-created-images-an d-video-in-official-messaging


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