UK government disbands independent AI and data ethics advisory board
Decision comes ahead of global AI safety sumit being held in the UK in November
The government has quietly removed the independent advisory board of its Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation (CDEI), which had previously been expected to oversee the responsible use of AI technologies and algorithms in public sector bodies.
The panel of eight experts was dissolved without a formal public announcement, as reported by Recorded Future, which first brought this news to light.
Although the advisory board's webpage officially indicated its closure on 9th September 2023, Recorded Future revealed that the government modified the page in a manner that prevented email alerts from being sent to those subscribed to the topic.
Established in 2018, the CDEI had the mandate to spearhead the government's efforts to foster responsible and reliable innovation through the use of data and AI technologies. Since its inception, the centre has primarily focused on formulating practical guidelines to assist the public sector in the ethical use of algorithms and AI.
In November 2021, it released an algorithmic transparency standard applicable to all public sector entities and followed up with a portfolio of AI assurance techniques in June 2023.
The government's decision to dissolve the CDEI board (and to do so without any public announcement) looks interesting given that it comes at the time when Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has announced efforts to position the UK as a global frontrunner in AI governance.
Speaking anonymously with Recorded Future, a former senior official at the CDEI said that when the board was originally established, the UK could genuinely claim itself as a global leader in terms of "thought leadership and capacity building" concerning AI governance and its associated policy implications.
However, as the CDEI underwent changes, under four prime ministers and seven secretaries of state, its mission had become significantly less clear within the government, the official added.
"At our inception, there was a question over whether we would be moved out of government and put on a statutory footing, or be an arm's-length body, and the assumption was that was where we were headed," said the official. Instead, earlier this year, the CDEI was fully integrated into the Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology (DSIT).
The former board member also emphasised that there hasn't been any political determination to compel public sector organisations to actively engage with the governance initiatives of the CDEI.
Neil Lawrence, a professor of machine learning at the University of Cambridge and interim chair of the advisory board, told Recorded Future that although he had "strong suspicions" regarding the disbandment of the advisory board, no discussions or consultations were held with him prior to the decision being reached.
A source within DSIT said that CDEI Board members were initially appointed on a fixed term contract with CDEI, served full terms, and have engaged positively in these changes. The minutes from the final advisory board meeting will be published soon, as well as a blog with reflections from outgoing members on their time on the Board, and what lies ahead for the UK's innovation and AI landscape.
The CDEI Board advised on the rollout of the Algorithmic Transparency Recording Standard, the delivery of the UK-US Privacy Enhancing Technologies (PETs) prize challenge, and the design of the upcoming Fairness Innovation Challenge. The first of these has been piloted with a variety of public sector organisations across the UK and the published pilot reports are publicly available. Following the pilots, the Standard was updated to reflect feedback, with a review planed every six months. All information can be found on the Algorithmic Transparency Recording Standard Hub, which launched in January 2023.
In parallel with the disbanding of the CDEI, the government announced the appointment of individuals from various sectors, including industry, academia, and national security, to serve on the advisory board of what is now called the Frontier AI Taskforce (formerly AI Foundation Model Taskforce).
"The CDEI Advisory Board was appointed on a fixed term basis and with its work evolving to keep pace with rapid developments in data and AI, we are now tapping into a broader group of expertise from across the Department beyond a formal Board structure," a spokesperson for the DSIT said.
"This will ensure a diverse range of opinion and insight, including from former board members, can continue to inform its work and support government's AI and innovation priorities," the spokesperson added.
Professor Marion Oswald, MBE - CDEI Advisory Board member, said: "Now more than ever, governments, policymakers and industry need expert, constructive, critical friends to guide the technical and governance aspects of data-driven technology and AI. This is because the public expect responsible use of data, and scandals around data losses or reputationally damaging analytics mean that trust cannot be taken for granted."
"Despite the disbanding of the Advisory Board, I look forward to the CDEI retaining its distinct identity and continuing its expert role to provide constructive and informed input, thus underpinning key aspects of the National AI Strategy."
Some data ethics specialists have expressed dismay at the disbanding of the CDEI.
Natalie Cramp, CEO of data company, Profusion, said:
"It's deeply disappointing that the Government has taken the decision to disband the independent AI and data ethics advisory board. It's another indication that the Government simply doesn't have a coherent strategy towards data and AI, nor does it have strong stakeholder engagement on this topic.
"In November the UK is set to hold a global summit on AI safety which is an ideal opportunity to position the UK in a leading role to define how AI can develop. However, when compared to the progress the US and Europe have made towards creating and debating AI legislation, the UK is far behind. The reality is that AI will become one of the defining technologies of the next few decades. Without well-thought-out rules that govern its development we risk, at best, wasting this opportunity to do a lot of good, and at worst, creating an environment where damaging and undesirable uses of AI thrive. This could lead to us regressing to a more unequal society."