eu-ai-label

EU AI content labels

Burns the official European Commission icons for labelling AI-generated content into images and videos. Source: https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/eu-icons-labelling-ai-generated-content (icons bundled in assets/, PNG + SVG, all four colour variations).

Quick start

python3 scripts/ai-label.py <file...>          # basic "AI" icon, bottom-right, auto colour

Writes <name>-ai-label.<ext> next to the input and prints the recommended alt text. Always use the absolute skill path when calling from another directory, e.g. python3 ~/.pi/agent/skills/eu-ai-label/scripts/ai-label.py clip.mp4.

Pick the right variant

--variant	Icon	When to use
ai (default)	"AI" badge	AI was involved in creating a deep fake or published text, or you add your own text label / second layer (e.g. "voices generated with" + icon)
generated	"AI GENERATED"	The whole thing is AI-generated, no human-created elements or editorial control beyond prompting
modified	"AI MODIFIED"	Pre-existing human-made content partially altered with AI (face swap, AI-furnished room, …)

Ask the user which case applies if it is not obvious; when unsure default to ai.

Common usage

# fully AI-generated video, white icon, bottom-left, slightly bigger
python3 scripts/ai-label.py clip.mp4 -v generated -c white -p bottom-left --height 10

# partially modified photo
python3 scripts/ai-label.py photo.jpg -v modified

# batch into a folder (note: use --suffix=-xyz for values starting with a dash)
python3 scripts/ai-label.py shots/*.png --outdir labelled/ -v generated

# label only the first 5 seconds (still must be visible at first exposure)
python3 scripts/ai-label.py clip.mp4 --enable 'between(t,0,5)'

# busy background: add a backing plate
python3 scripts/ai-label.py clip.mp4 --padding 10 --padding-color '[email protected]'

# just get the raw asset path / alt text for use elsewhere (web, editor, Figma)
python3 scripts/ai-label.py --print-asset generated --color black
python3 scripts/ai-label.py --print-alt modified
python3 scripts/ai-label.py --list

Options that matter

• -c/--color auto|black|white — auto samples the target corner and picks the contrasting icon.
• --half — the 50 %-transparency icon variants (only when the full-opacity one is too dominant).
• -p/--position — bottom-right (default), bottom-left, top-right, top-left, bottom-center, top-center; br/bl/tr/tl/bc/tc aliases work.
• Size: --height (% of frame height, default 8) or --width (% of frame width), or absolute --height-px / --width-px. Guards: --min-px (24), --max-width (40 %).
• --margin % of the shorter side (default 2.5) or --margin-px.
• Video encode: --crf 18, --preset medium, --vcodec libx264; audio is stream-copied. Add anything else with --ffmpeg-arg.
• -n/--dry-run prints the ffmpeg command, -f/--force overwrites, --no-metadata skips the disclosure comment tag.

Behaviour notes: images keep their format (JPEG q2, PNG flattened unless --keep-alpha), GIFs are re-encoded with a generated palette, audio-only inputs are skipped with a hint (the EU icons are visual — disclose audio in the player UI, description or an accompanying label).

Metadata is video-only. The disclosure comment tag is written for video containers (MP4/MOV/…), but ffmpeg's still-image muxers discard it, so PNG/JPEG/WebP/TIFF/GIF outputs carry no tag — the script says so instead of pretending otherwise. This is cosmetic for compliance: Art. 50 wants a visible mark, and the label is burned into the pixels either way. To add a tag anyway: exiftool -Comment='…' out.png.

Placement rules to respect

Follow these unless the user explicitly overrides them:

1. Visible at first exposure — first frame / above the fold, not only at the end.
2. Put it where no UI overlay covers it (avoid platform-specific hot corners such as the TikTok/Reels right rail or a YouTube progress bar area — prefer top-left or bottom-left there).
3. Burn it into the pixels so it survives resharing and downloading; metadata alone is not enough.
4. Clearly visible size — don't shrink below ~5 % of frame height; the default 8 % is a good floor.
5. Give the recommended alt text / ARIA label to any surface that publishes the file (the script prints it; also available via --print-alt).
6. If the disclosure is time-limited, keep it on screen long enough to read.

Full rules and scope: references/eu-rules.md.

Important caveats

• Using the icon does not by itself establish legal compliance. Deployers stay responsible under Article 50 AI Act; signatories of the Code of Practice must follow its placement specs.
• Not everything needs a label: the duty covers deep fakes (image/audio/video resembling real persons/places/events) and AI-generated text on matters of public interest published without human editorial review. Artistic/satirical/fictional works get limited disclosure that must not hamper enjoyment of the work; law-enforcement-authorised uses are exempt.
• The icon is a visual disclosure, not provenance. For machine-readable provenance use C2PA / Content Credentials in addition.