United Kingdom: Information Commissioner's Office published response to consultation on government inquiry into copyright and artificial intelligence

On 25 February 2025, the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) published its response to the government’s consultation on the legal framework for artificial intelligence (AI). The ICO emphasised the need for AI to be developed responsibly and in compliance with legal frameworks, given that AI training often involves processing personal data. While the ICO does not regulate copyright, it noted overlaps where copyrighted material contains personal data and stressed the importance of regulatory clarity. Key concerns include ensuring AI developers lawfully process data, promoting transparency in AI training and outputs, and addressing potential unintended consequences of expanding text and data mining exemptions. The ICO also highlighted the role of organisations hosting personal data in monitoring web scraping and called for greater disclosure of AI training data sources. ICO also welcomed discussions on licensing mechanisms, advocating for data protection compliance within such agreements.