AI transparency mark for websites: what it certifies and what it costs
November 2, 20267 min
An AI transparency mark is a visible badge on a website indicating that the business has reviewed where it uses artificial intelligence towards the public and that it communicates this as the regulation requires. It is not issued by any European body. It is issued by a private provider, and its value depends on what it checks, how often it checks it, and whether anyone can verify it from outside.
The reason this is being asked now is the timetable: from 2 August 2026 the transparency obligations of Article 50 of Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 will apply, and they affect practically any entity that develops, markets or uses AI systems. A chatbot on a website, AI-generated images or published texts fall within that scope.
What an AI transparency mark certifies
A serious mark certifies three things, and nothing more:
That someone has reviewed the website: which AI systems appear to users and whether they carry the corresponding notice.
That there is a date: when that check was carried out and against what criteria.
That it is externally verifiable: a public page where a customer, a supplier or an inspector can confirm that the mark is current and what it covers.
That has practical use. It serves as evidence of diligence in the event of a complaint, it answers questions from large customers during procurement processes, and it internally forces the business to keep notices up to date.
What it does not certify: it is not an official EU certification
Written with the help of artificial intelligence and reviewed by the Sofyer team.
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For the transparency obligations under Article 50 there is no equivalent European marking. Nor is there currently a state-run mark in use: the Ministry had at one point awarded to the joint venture formed by Deloitte and Odiseia the development of a certification in the form of a mark to guarantee that companies implement algorithms ethically, linked to the regulation's sandbox environment.
Practical consequences:
A private mark does not exempt you from anything: if the chatbot notice is missing, the non-compliance remains even if the mark is displayed.
It does not replace internal documentation: a system inventory, a usage policy and team training are separate matters.
It is not an accredited audit: unless the provider explicitly states otherwise, there is no accredited certification body behind it.
What the mark needs to cover: the real obligations
Publishing the notices, internally documenting what has been reviewed and signing your own declaration. Zero cost in money, real cost in time and judgement: you need to know what to mark and how. It is sufficient from a legal standpoint, because the regulation requires transparency, not a mark. The problem arises when you need to prove to a third party that this was done, and when.
The middle ground: a provider checks the website, generates the notices and issues a verifiable badge. Low price, scope limited to the digital shopfront.
2Sofyer, Sello IA: €149 + VAT per year. Free Article 50 transparency scanner, ready-to-paste notices, a verified mark with a public verification page and automatic monthly re-checking. For sole traders and SMEs with a website, chatbot or generated content. Details on the service page.
7Intelixia Lab: an audit with an inventory of AI uses, risk classification, usage policy and training with records, from €390. For businesses that need the file, not the badge.
9Vanta: a compliance platform with an ISO 42001 module and a public trust centre; it publishes its own breakdown of certification costs. For software companies managing several frameworks at once.
How to choose without wasting money
Check whether there is a public verification page: a mark that cannot be verified from outside is just an image in the footer.
Ask how often it is reviewed: a website changes; a mark issued once and forgotten stops being valid the day you add a new chatbot.
Check what the scope includes: transparency towards the user is not the same as a system inventory, an internal policy and team training.
Separate the mark from the file: if you need documentation for a tender or a large customer, the badge is not enough.
Be wary of the word "official": no private provider issues European transparency certifications.
The reasonable split for an SME is usually this: the badge and the notices sort out the shopfront; the documentary file sorts out the back office. If what is missing is the second part, the AI Act Compliance Kit covers the six documents and team training with a certificate per person for €890 + VAT as a one-off payment. If what is missing is the first part, the transparency scanner is free and tells you in minutes which notices are missing from your website.
You can start with the free scanner on the Sello IA page and decide afterwards whether the verified badge at €149 + VAT per year is of interest.
