Despite the rapid adoption of AI technologies across the UK public sector, no ministerial government department currently employs an AI Ethics Officer. Data obtained through Freedom of Information requests by the Parliament Street think tank revealed that while overarching AI governance is assigned to Chief Data Officers within departments, no individual or team has been appointed to oversee the ethical use of AI.
Departments including the Cabinet Office, Ministry of Defence, Department for Health & Social Care and Department for Work & Pensions confirmed the absence of dedicated AI ethics oversight roles. This lack of formal ethical governance comes as over 60 percent of public sector organisations have already invested in AI infrastructure. Concerns are mounting that innovation is progressing faster than the development of necessary checks and balances, raising risks of bias and potential misuse.
In March, the UK Government outlined its continued commitment to the development and deployment of ethical AI following the spring budget. The funding aims to drive innovation and improve efficiency across departments, central to plans to modernise the public sector. However, without appropriate governance structures in place, concerns persist that such rapid transformation may introduce risks to data privacy, public trust and systemic bias.
Sachin Agrawal, Managing Director for Zoho UK, commented, “Artificial Intelligence is already having a transformative impact on businesses enabling efficiencies in areas like data analysis, fraud detection and forecasting, delivering tangible benefits to people and organisations. However, it is important for any companies using the new technology to have accountability around ethical use.”
Call for Ethical Oversight and Collaboration in AI Deployment
Agrawal further highlighted the need for collaboration between industry, government regulators and academia to establish frameworks that promote the safe and ethical use of AI systems. He said: “As AI adoption accelerates in the public sector, global collaboration is required by industry experts, government regulators and academia. These parties should work together to establish frameworks that promote safe and ethical use of AI systems. Government departments should consider delivering transparent AI system deployments that align with public values. This can help avoid risks including damaging public trust and embedding bias into systems that impact UK citizens.”
Stuart Harvey, CEO of Datactics, emphasised the importance of embedding ethical oversight within government departments. He said, “The introduction of AI ethics officers across government departments is no longer optional, it’s essential. Without dedicated ethical oversight, there is a real risk that departments will adopt AI tools without fully understanding their societal implications or long-term risks.”
Harvey further stressed the central role of data in AI strategy, saying, “Moreover, data must be seen as central to AI strategy. Rushing ahead with deployment before ensuring data readiness, quality and suitability for AI can result in costly mistakes and reputational damage. Embedding ethical oversight roles within departments enables the government to evidence that it is ensuring data is managed responsibly, and AI is deployed in a way that aligns with public values and democratic accountability.”
