AI View: June 2026

Welcome to AI View, Simmons & Simmons' fortnightly round-up of key AI legislative, regulatory, and policy updates from around the world.

AI x Dispute Resolution Webinar Series

Our AI x Dispute Resolution webinar series is now well underway, bringing together lawyers from across our global disputes and AI teams to unpack how AI-related risk is translating into real-world litigation and regulatory exposure.

Across the first sessions, we have explored how disputes are already emerging in practice, from regulatory enforcement and collective actions to negligence, and what organisations should be doing now to prepare.

The series continues after the summer with a focus on some of the most complex and fast-evolving areas of AI risk, including:

• AI and IP - protecting rights and managing risk
• AI incident response and product liability
• Evidence in AI disputes
• Futureproofing against AI disputes through contracting and governance

Each session is designed to be practical and digestible, combining expert insight with clear takeaways for in-house legal, risk and compliance teams navigating this rapidly developing landscape.

If you have not already registered, you can sign up once to attend the remaining sessions and access recordings from those you may have missed here.

This edition brings you:

1. European Commission publishes final Transparency Code of Practice on marking and labelling AI-generated content under EU AI Act

2. UK Government announces social media ban for under-16s and ban on ‘romantic companion’ AI chatbots for under-18s

3. UAE establishes Federal Authority for Artificial Intelligence and Data

4. New York Assembly passes new regulations on chatbots and training data transparency

5. Financial Stability Board invites comments on toolkit for responsible AI adoption

6. Singapore opens consultation on the use of personal data in generative AI development and deployment

7. Cyberspace Administration of China’s Reporting Centre launches AI-specific reporting channel for AI incidents

8. UK MHRA publishes two reports on the use of AI in healthcare to shape AI Commission’s recommendations on MedTech regulation

1. European Commission publishes final Transparency Code of Practice on marking and labelling AI-generated content under EU AI Act

On 10 June 2026, the European Commission released the final version of its Transparency Code of Practice (the Code), which aims to assist providers and deployers of AI systems to comply with their obligations under Article 50 of the AI Act.

The AI Act requires providers to apply machine-readable markings (using techniques such as metadata or watermarking) to content which is manipulated or generated by their AI systems. Deployers must ensure that deepfake content and text on matters of public interest carry labels (such as icons or disclaimers).

The Code is a voluntary instrument which operators may elect to sign in order to demonstrate compliance, and includes a number of “encouragements” and voluntary measures as well as mandatory requirements.

The drafting process was marked by debates over key themes such as which marking techniques would be both compliant and technically feasible, and the development of an EU-wide icon to be affixed to deepfakes.

Read the Code here.

2. UK Government announces social media ban for under-16s and ban on ‘romantic companion’ AI chatbots for under-18s

On 15 June 2026, the UK Government announced that it would introduce social media bans for under-16s, following the approach taken in Australia, in response to a recent consultation on online harms and safety.

“Romantic” companion chatbots which simulate relationships with users will also be banned for all users under 18.

In order to implement the regulations, Ofcom has been instructed to conduct a rapid study on viable age assurance measures, and to undertake an urgent review of its enforcement capabilities.

A further announcement is expected by 16 July, setting out feature-specific restrictions such as curfews for 16-17 year olds and potential prohibitions on ‘infinite scroll’ functionalities, and addressing the risk that users may use Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to circumvent age checks.

The first tranche of regulations is expected to be laid before Parliament before the end of 2026, entering into force in Spring 2027. However, the timing of this may shift in light of the Prime Minister’s resignation on 22 June 2026, which may result in changes to government policy priorities.

Read the statement here.

3. UAE establishes Federal Authority for Artificial Intelligence and Data

On 14 June 2026, the UAE established a new federal authority overseeing data governance and AI, intended to operate as a unified national authority reporting directly to the UAE Cabinet. The move consolidates the Office of Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications, the Digital Government Sector at the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority, and the Data Office (the federal privacy regulator) into a single centralised federal mandate.

The authority’s tasks will include promoting digital governance and uptake of AI in public services and developing a national AI strategy, as well as proposing national policies and legislation on AI regulation and establishing standards and guidelines for AI.

The Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Omar Sultan Al Olama, will chair the organisation.

Read the press release here.

4. New York Assembly passes new regulations on chatbots and training data transparency

The New York Assembly has passed three new bills on AI:

• A6578B requires developers to disclose information on the training data used in generative AI models released after 1 January 2022. This includes specific criteria including the source or owner of the datasets; how the datasets have been used to further the intended purpose of the AI model; information on copyright and licensing; and any personal data or aggregated consumer data involved.
• S9051B prohibits the offering of companion chatbots with unsafe features to minors. Such unsafe features include where the chatbot’s outputs suggest it experiences human emotions or is alive; states or implies it has any personal relationship with the user; produces flattering or sycophantic outputs; or produces harmful content such as promoting self-harm, disordered eating, or drug or alcohol abuse. The Attorney-General is to establish a website to facilitate public reporting of suspected breaches.
• S9934A restricts the use of stealth crawlers on news websites, including for web scraping or access by AI agents, where this might cause damage, burden, or economic harm to the operator of the site. Site operators are empowered to seek injunctions and damages in the event of a breach.

All three bills are now awaiting the Governor’s signature to enter into law.

Read the bills here: A6578B; S9051B; S9934A.

5. Financial Stability Board invites comments on toolkit for responsible AI adoption

On 10 June 2026, the Financial Stability Board published a report on “sound practices” to be used in the financial sector to facilitate AI governance and risk management throughout an AI system’s lifecycle.

The guidance, which is open for public comment until 22 July 2026, covers recommended practices for assessing and mitigating risks (including human oversight, explainability, cyber and third-party risks), accompanied by case studies on existing AI implementation practices. These are intended to illustrate how the practices should be employed proportionately: the report notes that practices may be tailored to the specific risk profile and potential impact of an AI tool, rather than uniformly adopting the recommendations.

The recommendations are noted not to be exhaustive and may be amended as AI usage continues to evolve.

Read and comment on the draft here.

6. Singapore opens consultation on the use of personal data in generative AI development and deployment

On 2 June 2026, the Singapore Personal Data Protection Commission opened a public consultation on the application of the personal data protection regime in the context of AI, open until 1 July 2026.

The proposed guidelines set out how data protection concerns should be managed across the AI lifecycle, including the collection and use of personal data for development; how data can be processed in a compliant manner when deploying AI tools; and complying with individuals’ requests for access to and correction of their data.

The guidelines also set out detailed considerations regarding when data may be considered ‘publicly available’ (and thus exempt from the requirement to seek consent to collect data via web scraping).

In particular, the Commission seeks the public’s views on issues including best practices for notifying data subjects and complying with access and correction requests, and information that developers should provide to downstream stakeholders. The Commission also requests contributions regarding agent-specific risks and challenges which could be addressed in the guidelines.

Read and comment on the draft here.

7. Cyberspace Administration of China’s Reporting Centre launches AI-specific reporting channel for AI incidents

China’s internet content regulator has established a reporting portal for the public to submit reports of AI-related incidents.

The portal is intended to cover two categories of incident:

• Breaches of applicable regulations such as inadequate labelling of deepfakes and other AI content; the use of AI for illegal purposes; data poisoning incidents, or security incidents relating to training data, platforms or models.
• AI content breaches, including violent, vulgar or harmful content; false or misleading information; and infringements of minors’ rights and interests.

Access the portal and read more here.

8. UK MHRA publishes two reports on the use of AI in healthcare to shape AI Commission’s recommendations on MedTech regulation

On 11 June 2026, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency published reports from its recent evidence and research programmes into the use of AI in healthcare.

This is intended to support the National Commission into the Regulation of AI in Healthcare’s review of regulatory approaches to the evolving use of AI in the sector, by collating views from patients, healthcare professionals, industry partners and the wider public on the potential risks and benefits of AI adoption.

The evidence gathered will feed into the National Commission’s recommendations on ensuring the safe and effective use of AI in healthcare, which are expected to be published in summer 2026.

Read the reports here.