# OpenAI — Our approach to EU text provenance rules

- Company: OpenAI (openai.com)
- Announced: 2026-10-05T15:00:00+00:00
- Category: safety-policy-update
- Coverage: 21 outlets
- Announcement: no
- Group: covered
- Source: https://openai.com/index/eu-text-provenance
- Record: https://forck.live/items/16051-our-approach-to-eu-text-provenance-rules
- Subject: GPT / ChatGPT / API
- Models affected: Astra

OpenAI announced its phased approach to text watermarking in response to the EU AI Act. Starting today, API customers globally can opt in to text watermarking for select models, and over the coming weeks an invisible watermark will be added to eligible ChatGPT and Codex text output in the European Union. The company also opened applications for access to its text watermark detector, initially limited to approved researchers and expert organizations.

## Evidence

Verbatim from https://openai.com/index/eu-text-provenance:

> Text watermarking and detection remain early technologies with significant limitations, and views about their benefits and responsible uses are still developing.

## Around this story

Outlets this record can name and link:

- Engadget — OpenAI will add a digital watermark to text and code generated in the EU: https://engadget.com/2277866/openai-will-add-a-digital-watermark-to-text-and-code-generated-in-the-eu
- The Register — OpenAI rolls out weak sauce watermarking for AI text: https://theregister.com/ai-and-ml/2026/10/06/openai-rolls-out-weak-sauce-watermarking-for-ai-text/5301257
- Gizmodo — OpenAI Is Adding Text Watermarks in the EU Because Regulation Works: https://gizmodo.com/openai-is-adding-text-watermarks-in-the-eu-because-regulation-works-2000821852
- Digital Trends: https://digitaltrends.com/computing/openai-is-adding-invisible-watermarks-to-chatgpt-and-codex-for-users-in-the-eu
- PCMag: https://pcmag.com/news/openai-to-add-watermarks-on-chatgpts-text-outputs-but-only-in-the-eu
- Moneycontrol — After Anthropic, OpenAI introduces invisible text watermarks for ChatGPT and Codex: https://moneycontrol.com/technology/after-anthropic-openai-to-add-invisible-text-watermarks-to-chatgpt-and-codex-article-14045534.html
- 9to5Mac — OpenAI details new text watermarking system for ChatGPT, Codex, API: https://9to5mac.com/2026/10/05/openai-details-new-text-watermarking-system-for-chatgpt-codex-and-the-api
- Silicon Republic — OpenAI to watermark AI-generated text in EU: https://siliconrepublic.com/machines/openai-to-watermark-ai-generated-text-in-eu
- BleepingComputer — OpenAI is adding invisible watermarks to ChatGPT and Codex text in the EU: https://bleepingcomputer.com/news/artificial-intelligence/openai-is-adding-invisible-watermarks-to-chatgpt-and-codex-text-in-the-eu
- Unite — OpenAI Begins Phased Text Watermarking Under EU AI Act Rules: https://unite.ai/openai-begins-phased-text-watermarking-under-eu-ai-act-rules
- PYMNTS — OpenAI Rolls Out Text Watermarks to Meet EU AI Act Mandates: https://pymnts.com/news/artificial-intelligence/2026/openai-rolls-out-text-watermarks-meet-european-union-ai-act-mandates
- Neowin: https://neowin.net/news/chatgpt-introduces-invisible-text-watermarks-in-the-eu-though-theyre-not-hard-to-remove
- Business Today — OpenAI plans to watermark ChatGPT and Codex text output in EU amid AI transparency push: https://businesstoday.in/technology/artificial-intelligence/story/openai-plans-to-watermark-chatgpt-and-codex-text-output-in-eu-amid-ai-transparency-push-559728-2026-10-06
- The Hans India: https://thehansindia.com/technology/tech-news/openai-adds-hidden-watermarks-to-chatgpt-and-codex-1129459
- MediaNama: https://medianama.com/2026/10/223-openai-watermark-ai-text-eu
- Search Engine Journal — OpenAI To Watermark ChatGPT Text In The EU, Opens API Opt-In: https://searchenginejournal.com/openai-to-watermark-chatgpt-text-in-the-eu-opens-api-opt-in/592014
- Daring Fireball — OpenAI Announces Their Text Watermarking Plans: https://daringfireball.net/linked/2026/10/05/openai-announces-their-text-watermarking-plans

## Follow-ups

- TechCrunch (reported, 5 Oct): OpenAI will start watermarking ChatGPT’s text in the EU — https://forck.live/items/16095-openai-will-start-watermarking-chatgpt-s-text-in-the-eu
- The New Stack (reported, 5 Oct): OpenAI brings text watermarking to its API — and unlike Anthropic, it’s off by default — https://forck.live/items/16090-openai-brings-text-watermarking-to-its-api-and-unlike-anthropic-it-s-off-by
- The Verge (reported, 5 Oct): OpenAI is adding text watermarking in ChatGPT and Codex — https://forck.live/items/16081-openai-is-adding-text-watermarking-in-chatgpt-and-codex
- The Decoder (reported, 5 Oct): OpenAI will watermark ChatGPT text in the EU but makes it optional for API users worldwide — https://forck.live/items/16078-openai-will-watermark-chatgpt-text-in-the-eu-but-makes-it-optional-for-api

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