As the UK government pushes for regulatory exemptions to accelerate AI adoption, The Law Society asserts the current legal framework is robust. The real friction lies in uncertainty over liability and data protection, not the laws themselves. The profession seeks a practical roadmap, not deregulation, to navigate the grey areas of AI integration.
A fundamental clash is emerging over the future of AI regulation in the UK, pitting the government's drive for deregulatory speed against the legal profession's insistence on clarity and maintained standards. The Law Society of England and Wales has thrown a curveball, arguing that the problem isn't the law itself, but understanding how to apply it in the age of autonomous software.
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) recently launched a call for evidence on a proposed ‘AI Growth Lab’, a cross-economy sandbox designed to accelerate autonomous tech deployment by granting firms "time-limited regulatory exemptions." The government's position is that many regulations are outdated, pre-dating autonomous software and often assuming human decision-makers.
In a formal response, The Law Society made clear that the existing legal and regulatory framework is robust enough. Ian Jeffery, CEO of The Law Society, stated that the main challenges "don’t stem from regulatory burdens, but rather from uncertainty, cost, data and skills associated with AI adoption." He noted that AI innovation is vital and already has great momentum, with two-thirds of lawyers already using AI tools.
Rather than seeking deregulation, the profession is asking for a practical roadmap to navigate unresolved questions:
While the government has tried to reassure the public that the sandbox will have "red lines" to protect fundamental rights and safety, The Law Society remains wary of any move that might dilute consumer protection in the name of speed. Jeffery stated, "Technological progress in the legal sector should not expose clients or consumers to unregulated risks."
The body expressed willingness to collaborate on a "legal services sandbox," but only if it upholds professional standards rather than bypassing them. It stressed that any legal regulatory changes must include parliamentary oversight.
Source: ArtificialIntelligence-News | Analysis by: AI Tools Oasis
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