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UK consultation: A pro-innovation approach to AI regulation
Updated August 20, 2024
In February 2024, the UK government published A pro-innovation approach to AI regulation: government response, which resulted from a consultation published in March 2023 (and updated in August 2023).
The "pro-innovation approach" of this consultation and response is substantially less regulatory and more market-oriented than that of the EU AI Act and arguably less regulatory even than that of the US Executive Order on AI. Following some reports (paywall) during the previous Conservative government that the UK was reconsidering this very light-touch regulatory approach, the new Labour government in July 2024 launched a process to prepare an Artificial Intelligence Action Plan that could result in change of the regulatory framework.
The consultation response applies a “context-based” approach to AI regulation (i.e. applying regulation in sectoral contexts on a technology-neutral basis) with five cross-sectoral principles:
Safety, security and robustness;
Appropriate transparency and explainability;
Fairness;
Accountability and governance; and
Contestability and redress.
For the time being, the UK government will apply this high-level approach on a non-statutory basis. However, the response does indicate willingness of the UK government to take regulatory action in appropriate circumstances, including:
The consultation response summarises various aspects of the evolving UK regulatory approach, including: