check before: 2026-02-01
Product:
Clipchamp, Copilot, Copilot Chat, Microsoft 365 Apps, Microsoft 365 Copilot
Platform:
Android, iOS, Mac, Online, Web, Windows Desktop, World tenant
Status:
Launched
Change type:
Admin impact, New feature, Updated message, User impact
Links:
Details:
Summary:
Microsoft 365 will offer a policy to add visual or audio watermarks to AI-generated or altered video and audio content, available mid-April 2026 via Cloud Policy. This enhances transparency and requires organizations to enable the policy; image watermarking will be user-controlled starting February 2026.
Details:
Updated April 6, 2026: We have updated the timeline. Thank you for your patience.
[Introduction]
To help provide additional transparency about what content has been generated or altered by using AI in Microsoft 365, Microsoft is providing you with a policy setting that visually designates when content, such as video or audio content, is generated or altered by using AI. This policy setting controls your organization's option to add a visual or audio watermark to video and audio content that your users generate or alter by using AI in Microsoft 365.
To turn on watermarks for video and audio content that your users generate or alter by using AI in Microsoft 365, you need to use the "Include a watermark when content from Microsoft 365 is generated or altered by AI" policy. This policy is available only in Cloud Policy service for Microsoft 365.
Note: Watermarks are not turned on unless you set the policy to Enabled. Your organization is always responsible for following the Microsoft Enterprise AI Services Code of Conduct, including not generating or sharing deceptive AI content.
This change is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID: 547831.
[When this will happen]
General Availability (Worldwide): We anticipate that this policy will be available in Cloud Policy by mid-April 2026 (previously late March).
Change Category:
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Scope:
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Release Phase:
General Availability
Created:
2026-01-23
updated:
2026-04-07
Task Type
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Docu to Check
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MS How does it affect me
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MS Preperations
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MS Urgency
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MS workload name
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linked item details
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summary for non-techies**
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Direct effects for Operations**
User Experience Degradation
Users may experience confusion or frustration due to unexpected watermarks on their AI-generated content, impacting the perceived professionalism of their work.
- roles: Content Creators, Marketing Teams
- references: https://learn.microsoft.com/copilot/microsoft-365/watermarks, https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/roadmap?searchterms=547831
Increased Training Needs
Users will require additional training to understand the new watermarking policy and how to manage it, leading to potential delays in productivity.
- roles: IT Support, Training Coordinators
- references: https://learn.microsoft.com/legal/ai-code-of-conduct, https://learn.microsoft.com/microsoft-365-apps/admin-center/overview-cloud-policy
Compliance Risks
Without proper preparation, organizations may inadvertently violate the Microsoft Enterprise AI Services Code of Conduct by not informing users about the watermarking policy, leading to compliance issues.
- roles: Compliance Officers, Legal Teams
- references: https://learn.microsoft.com/legal/ai-code-of-conduct, https://myaccount.microsoft.com/
Configutation Options**
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Opportunities**
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Potentional Risks**
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Data Protection**
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IT Security**
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Hypothetical Work Council Statement**
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DPIA Draft**
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explanation for non-techies**
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** AI generated content. This information must be reviewed before use.
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change history
| Date | Property | old | new |
| 2026-04-07 | MC Last Updated | 03/23/2026 17:28:26 | 2026-04-06T18:10:20Z |
| 2026-04-07 | MC Messages | Updated March 23, 2026: We have updated the timeline. Thank you for your patience.
[Introduction] To help provide additional transparency about what content has been generated or altered by using AI in Microsoft 365, Microsoft is providing you with a policy setting that visually designates when content, such as video or audio content, is generated or altered by using AI. This policy setting controls your organization's option to add a visual or audio watermark to video and audio content that your users generate or alter by using AI in Microsoft 365. To turn on watermarks for video and audio content that your users generate or alter by using AI in Microsoft 365, you need to use the "Include a watermark when content from Microsoft 365 is generated or altered by AI" policy. This policy is available only in Cloud Policy service for Microsoft 365. Note: Watermarks are not turned on unless you set the policy to Enabled. Your organization is always responsible for following the Microsoft Enterprise AI Services Code of Conduct, including not generating or sharing deceptive AI content. This change is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID: 547831. [When this will happen] General Availability (Worldwide): We anticipate that this policy will be available in Cloud Policy by late March 2026 (previously mid-March). | Updated April 6, 2026: We have updated the timeline. Thank you for your patience.
[Introduction] To help provide additional transparency about what content has been generated or altered by using AI in Microsoft 365, Microsoft is providing you with a policy setting that visually designates when content, such as video or audio content, is generated or altered by using AI. This policy setting controls your organization's option to add a visual or audio watermark to video and audio content that your users generate or alter by using AI in Microsoft 365. To turn on watermarks for video and audio content that your users generate or alter by using AI in Microsoft 365, you need to use the "Include a watermark when content from Microsoft 365 is generated or altered by AI" policy. This policy is available only in Cloud Policy service for Microsoft 365. Note: Watermarks are not turned on unless you set the policy to Enabled. Your organization is always responsible for following the Microsoft Enterprise AI Services Code of Conduct, including not generating or sharing deceptive AI content. This change is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID: 547831. [When this will happen] General Availability (Worldwide): We anticipate that this policy will be available in Cloud Policy by mid-April 2026 (previously late March). |
| 2026-04-07 | MC End Time | 05/01/2026 09:00:00 | 2026-05-18T09:00:00Z |
| 2026-04-07 | MC Summary | Microsoft 365 will offer a policy to add visual or audio watermarks to AI-generated or altered video and audio content, available via Cloud Policy by late March 2026. This enhances transparency but does not affect AI-generated images, which will have separate watermark controls starting February 2026. | Microsoft 365 will offer a policy to add visual or audio watermarks to AI-generated or altered video and audio content, available mid-April 2026 via Cloud Policy. This enhances transparency and requires organizations to enable the policy; image watermarking will be user-controlled starting February 2026. |
| 2026-03-24 | MC Messages | Updated February 24, 2026: We have updated the timeline. Thank you for your patience.
[Introduction] To help provide additional transparency about what content has been generated or altered by using AI in Microsoft 365, Microsoft is providing you with a policy setting that visually designates when content, such as video or audio content, is generated or altered by using AI. This policy setting controls your organization's option to add a visual or audio watermark to video and audio content that your users generate or alter by using AI in Microsoft 365. To turn on watermarks for video and audio content that your users generate or alter by using AI in Microsoft 365, you need to use the "Include a watermark when content from Microsoft 365 is generated or altered by AI" policy. This policy is available only in Cloud Policy service for Microsoft 365. Note: Watermarks are not turned on unless you set the policy to Enabled. Your organization is always responsible for following the Microsoft Enterprise AI Services Code of Conduct, including not generating or sharing deceptive AI content. This change is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID: 547831. [When this will happen] General Availability (Worldwide): We anticipate that this policy will be available in Cloud Policy by mid-March 2026 (previously late February). | Updated March 23, 2026: We have updated the timeline. Thank you for your patience.
[Introduction] To help provide additional transparency about what content has been generated or altered by using AI in Microsoft 365, Microsoft is providing you with a policy setting that visually designates when content, such as video or audio content, is generated or altered by using AI. This policy setting controls your organization's option to add a visual or audio watermark to video and audio content that your users generate or alter by using AI in Microsoft 365. To turn on watermarks for video and audio content that your users generate or alter by using AI in Microsoft 365, you need to use the "Include a watermark when content from Microsoft 365 is generated or altered by AI" policy. This policy is available only in Cloud Policy service for Microsoft 365. Note: Watermarks are not turned on unless you set the policy to Enabled. Your organization is always responsible for following the Microsoft Enterprise AI Services Code of Conduct, including not generating or sharing deceptive AI content. This change is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID: 547831. [When this will happen] General Availability (Worldwide): We anticipate that this policy will be available in Cloud Policy by late March 2026 (previously mid-March). |
| 2026-03-24 | MC Last Updated | 02/24/2026 22:08:43 | 2026-03-23T17:28:26Z |
| 2026-03-24 | MC Summary | Microsoft 365 will offer a policy to add visual or audio watermarks to AI-generated or altered video and audio content, available mid-March 2026 via Cloud Policy. Images are excluded but will have watermark options from February 2026 through user privacy settings. | Microsoft 365 will offer a policy to add visual or audio watermarks to AI-generated or altered video and audio content, available via Cloud Policy by late March 2026. This enhances transparency but does not affect AI-generated images, which will have separate watermark controls starting February 2026. |
| 2026-02-25 | MC Messages | [Introduction]
To help provide additional transparency about what content has been generated or altered by using AI in Microsoft 365, Microsoft is providing you with a policy setting that visually designates when content, such as video or audio content, is generated or altered by using AI. This policy setting controls your organization's option to add a visual or audio watermark to video and audio content that your users generate or alter by using AI in Microsoft 365. To turn on watermarks for video and audio content that your users generate or alter by using AI in Microsoft 365, you need to use the "Include a watermark when content from Microsoft 365 is generated or altered by AI" policy. This policy is available only in Cloud Policy service for Microsoft 365. Note: Watermarks are not turned on unless you set the policy to Enabled. Your organization is always responsible for following the Microsoft Enterprise AI Services Code of Conduct, including not generating or sharing deceptive AI content. This change is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID: 547831. [When this will happen] General Availability (Worldwide): We anticipate that this policy will be available in Cloud Policy by the second half of February 2026. | Updated February 24, 2026: We have updated the timeline. Thank you for your patience.
[Introduction] To help provide additional transparency about what content has been generated or altered by using AI in Microsoft 365, Microsoft is providing you with a policy setting that visually designates when content, such as video or audio content, is generated or altered by using AI. This policy setting controls your organization's option to add a visual or audio watermark to video and audio content that your users generate or alter by using AI in Microsoft 365. To turn on watermarks for video and audio content that your users generate or alter by using AI in Microsoft 365, you need to use the "Include a watermark when content from Microsoft 365 is generated or altered by AI" policy. This policy is available only in Cloud Policy service for Microsoft 365. Note: Watermarks are not turned on unless you set the policy to Enabled. Your organization is always responsible for following the Microsoft Enterprise AI Services Code of Conduct, including not generating or sharing deceptive AI content. This change is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID: 547831. [When this will happen] General Availability (Worldwide): We anticipate that this policy will be available in Cloud Policy by mid-March 2026 (previously late February). |
| 2026-02-25 | MC Title | New policy to add watermarks to content generated or altered by using AI in Microsoft 365 | (Updated) New policy to add watermarks to content generated or altered by using AI in Microsoft 365 |
| 2026-02-25 | MC Last Updated | 01/23/2026 01:54:26 | 2026-02-24T22:08:43Z |
| 2026-02-25 | MC MessageTagNames | New feature, User impact, Admin impact | Updated message, New feature, User impact, Admin impact |
| 2026-02-25 | MC Summary | Microsoft 365 will offer a policy to add visual or audio watermarks to AI-generated or altered video and audio content, available via Cloud Policy by February 2026. This enhances transparency but does not apply to images, which users can watermark through privacy settings separately. | Microsoft 365 will offer a policy to add visual or audio watermarks to AI-generated or altered video and audio content, available mid-March 2026 via Cloud Policy. Images are excluded but will have watermark options from February 2026 through user privacy settings. |
Last updated 2 weeks ago ago
