New guidance to support public authorities dealing with AI-generated FOI requests
The UK's Information Commissioner's Office has released guidance to help public authorities handle freedom of information requests that are generated or assisted by AI tools. The guidance addresses how existing FOI obligations apply when the volume or nature of requests shifts due to AI-assisted submission.
Why this matters: AI tools make it easier to fire off dozens of detailed FOI requests with almost no effort. That is good for accountability in some ways. It also gives public authorities a reason to push back on legitimate requests by calling them AI-generated. The ICO guidance matters because it sets the line between managing real administrative burden and using AI as an excuse to dodge transparency. Public access to government information should not shrink just because the tools for requesting it got better.
Who should care: Lawyers · Compliance · General readers · AI governance · Policy
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