UK committee urges AI Bill with human rights safeguards

The Joint Committee on Human Rights has called on the UK government to introduce an AI Bill promised in the 2024 King’s Speech, arguing that legislation is needed to place AI regulation on a firmer footing and give effect to the Council of Europe’s AI Treaty. The proposed regime would take a risk-based approach, impose proportionate obligations across the AI lifecycle and address harms to human rights.

Key recommendations include prohibitions on certain AI use cases, prior approval for systems posing a high risk of harm to human rights, due diligence duties across the supply chain and transparency obligations when AI systems significantly affect individuals, groups or communities. The committee also urged clearer rules on automated decision-making, including use of powers under Article 22D(1) UK GDPR introduced by the Data (Use & Access) Act 2025.

The committee proposed a single independent AI oversight body, either newly created or built from an expanded AI Security Institute, with powers to maintain an incident repository, publish mandatory codes, investigate breaches, impose sanctions, test high-risk systems and grant remedies to affected individuals. Handley Gill’s evidence, accepted and quoted by the committee, argued that legislation would help meet treaty obligations while reducing uncertainty over AI accountability and liability.