Regulation of Artificial Intelligence and Big Data in the UK

As the seat of the first Industrial Revolution, the UK has a long history of designing regulatory solutions to the challenges posed by technological change. However, regulation has often lagged behind - sometimes very far behind - new technology. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is proving no exception to this historical trend. In the first place, there is currently no consensus on whether the development of AI requires its own dedicated regulator or specific statutory regime. Gathering evidence for its May 2018 report "AI in the UK", the Select Committee on AI of the House of Lords found that opinions were divided into three camps: "those who considered existing laws could do the job; those who thought that action was needed immediately; and those who proposed a more cautious and staged approach to regulation"[1]. The first of these categories - where it was argued that existing laws were sufficient - included strong interest groups such as TechUK (a major trade association) and the Law Society of England and Wales.