Find out how to give evidence: Call for Evidence
The Joint Committee on Human Rights has launched a new inquiry to
examine how human rights can be protected in the age of
Artificial Intelligence (AI).
AI technologies may offer significant benefits to individuals and
society, but there are fears that they also pose serious risks.
Concerns have been raised around the data underpinning AI models
perpetuating societal biases and discrimination. Increased use of
AI in surveillance could conflict with an individual's right to
privacy or freedom of expression. Those who have their rights
breached could also face increased difficulty in seeking justice
where decisions have been made using opaque AI systems.
In this new inquiry, the Joint Committee will examine the threats
and opportunities AI offers for human rights in the UK. It will
also consider whether existing legal and regulatory frameworks
are sufficient to protect human rights and keep pace with AI
development.
Chair of the Joint Committee on Human Rights, Lord said:
“AI is set to transform the world we live in. We need to make
sure the human rights landscape is prepared for it. The
development of AI won't wait for regulation to meet its potential
size and scope. That is why we have launched this inquiry – to
understand the risks and rewards that AI poses for human rights
and work out if greater protections are needed.”
Terms of reference
The Joint Committee on Human Rights invites written submissions
on the following issues. The deadline for submissions is 5
September 2025.
Human rights issues
1. How can Artificial Intelligence (AI) affect individual
human rights for good or ill, in particular in the areas
of:
- effective remedies for violations of human rights?
Existing legal and regulatory framework
2. To what extent does the UK's existing legal framework
provide sufficient protections for human rights in relation to
AI?
3. To what extent is the Government's policy approach to
deploying AI, expressed in its “AI Opportunities Action Plan”,
sufficiently robust in respect of safeguarding human
rights?
Possible changes to legal and regulatory
framework
4. What would be needed in any future UK legislation to
protect human rights?
- To what extent should the same human rights standards apply
to private actors as public bodies when they use AI?
- To what extent might different kinds of AI technology require
different regulatory approaches?
5. Who should be held accountable for breaches of human
rights resulting from uses of AI, and on what basis?
- Where in the process of developing, deploying and using AI
technologies should liability arise?
- What additional measures, if any, are needed to ensure that
individuals have sufficient redress where they have suffered harm
because of the use of AI?
6. How might regulation match the pace of AI technology
development, such as the emergence of agentic AI, to ensure that
human rights are preserved as technology continues to
develop?
7. How could regulation take account of the international nature
of AI? How could it address the potential consequences for human
rights in the UK of the malign use of AI by regimes in other
countries?
8. How much difference will the Council of Europe Framework
Convention on Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights, Democracy
and the Rule of Law make to the protection of human rights in the
UK?
9. What lessons can be drawn from regulation of the impact of AI
on human rights in other jurisdictions, such as the European
Union?
