German journalist unions push for mandatory AI labeling as press council resists

The German Journalists' Association (DJV) and the German Journalist Union (dju) called on Wednesday in Berlin for a clear obligation to label AI‑generated content in the Press Code. DJV chair Mika Beuster warned that “the credibility of journalism is at stake” and said the lack of rules threatens the industry’s existence. The unions presented a five‑point plan that emphasizes human editorial responsibility, protection of authors' rights, transparency, non‑discrimination and employee participation in AI tool deployment.

In contrast, the German Press Council’s spokesperson Moritz Döbler stated that the Press Code does not require a labeling requirement, noting “it is very hard to define when a text is wholly or predominantly AI‑generated.” He cited a recent case where former Tagesspiegel editor Stephan‑Andreas Casdorff used AI to write opinion pieces without disclosure and was barred from further contributions.

Switzerland’s press regulator takes a different stance, mandating that any content created with AI be clearly identified, urging maximum transparency and labeling of deepfakes and fully automated outputs.

The debate highlights divergent approaches within German‑speaking media to ensure transparency while balancing practical challenges of AI integration.