Information Commissioner’s Office issues new guidance on how to tackle increased volume and complexity of Freedom of Information requests.
Government departments, local health boards, parish councils and maintained and academy schools are among the public authorities facing a deluge of AI-generated requests for information.
Image by Mohamed Nohassi / Unsplash
Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, public bodies designated ‘public authorities’ must answer requests for information promptly and within 20 working days. The act includes a number of other statutory obligations about the way requests must be handled.
But the Information Commissioner’s Office – the independent regulator which oversees compliance with act – says it has been alerted to a rapid rise in the volume and complexity of requests, the majority of them generated by artificial intelligence. Some requests misquote legislation or require significant clarification before they can be processed.
The result, says the ICO, is a significant burden on public authorities and could lead to delays, errors and an increase in complaints.
For this reason, the ICO has issued ‘Freedom of Information (FOI) and Artificial Intelligence’, new guidance that aims to address day-to-day challenges in processing FOI requests, helping public authorities to meet their statutory obligations in an effective way.
It covers such issues as AI-generated requests that misinterpret or misquote FOI legislation, managing higher volumes of requests that require clarification or refinement, and the fair and consistent handling of requests, no matter how they are created. There are also examples of wording public authorities can use to encourage responsible use of AI by requesters and more effective FOI requests.
Deborah Clark, Upstream Regulation Manager at the Information Commissioner’s Office, says: ‘FOI practitioners have told us clearly that the rise in AI-generated requests is changing the day-to-day reality of their work. They are seeing higher volumes of requests, a greater complexity of request, and more cases that need careful clarification before they can be processed.
‘This guidance is about giving teams practical, sensible support, not adding new burdens. It does not change the law or create new requirements, instead it helps teams apply existing FOI principles consistently, regardless of how a request is created. Used responsibly, AI also has the potential to help public authorities improve how they handle FOI requests, and this guidance sits alongside our wider work to support innovation that delivers real benefits for organisations and the public.
‘Our aim is to support and maintain effective access to information for everyone, all the while making sure FOI services remain workable and resilient as technology continues to evolve.’
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