The UK Parliament´s Joint Committee on Human Rights has initiated a comprehensive inquiry into how the rise of Artificial Intelligence may affect the protection of human rights. Announced on 25 July 2025, the inquiry aims to scrutinize both the threats and opportunities presented by Artificial Intelligence, with a particular focus on privacy, discrimination, and effective remedies for rights violations.
The committee highlights mounting concerns that Artificial Intelligence systems, while promising societal benefits, can perpetuate biases and contribute to discrimination due to problematic datasets. The deployment of Artificial Intelligence, especially in surveillance contexts, raises substantial worries about infringements on privacy and freedom of expression. There is also concern that individuals impacted by automated or opaque decision-making will face greater hurdles in seeking justice or redress.
In this new inquiry, the Joint Committee is seeking written submissions addressing how Artificial Intelligence impacts key human rights, with special attention to privacy, bias, and the practical avenues of remedy for rights breaches. The committee will also assess the adequacy of the UK´s current legal framework and relevant government strategies, including whether these safeguards can keep pace with rapid technological advances and the increasing complexity of Artificial Intelligence systems. Further, the committee asks whether future legislation should equalize human rights requirements for public and private actors, clarify liability along the development and deployment chain, and ensure sufficient redress for affected citizens.
Chair Lord David Alton emphasized that as Artificial Intelligence transforms society, the legislative and regulatory environment must not lag behind. The committee is openly inviting evidence until 5 September 2025, encouraging contributions on issues around international coordination, accountability, adaptation to emerging technologies like agentic Artificial Intelligence, and lessons drawn from foreign jurisdictions such as the European Union. The inquiry includes a review of international frameworks and the extent to which instruments like the Council of Europe Convention on Artificial Intelligence will strengthen rights protections in the UK.
