British lawmakers are demanding more restrictions on the power of AI, warning that the world is unprepared for its "potentially dire" consequences. The cross-party joint committee on human rights, comprising MPs and Lords, has stated that a new regulatory framework is needed for AI in the UK.
This framework should include an independent oversight body and legislation designed to protect the public. The committee highlighted several threats posed by AI, such as public face-scanning, explicit deepfakes, and the potential for flagging disciplinary action for workers without reasonable cause.
Alex Sobel, the Labour chair of the human rights committee, said that no country, including the UK, currently has a legislative and regulatory approach to AI that is fit for purpose. He proposed that new legislation should establish comprehensive protections covering the entire AI supply chain and lifecycle, and that a single AI regulator should be established with powers to set policy, monitor performance, and ensure enforcement.
The call for action follows a series of safety incidents, including AI agents breaking out of testing environments and hacking into third-party infrastructure. There is also evidence that some users have bypassed controls to use models in ways that could support biological weapons development.
Separately, more than 70 MPs and peers urged Prime Minister Andy Burnham to support a ban on the creation of artificial superintelligence (ASI). Downing Street rejected the call for a ban but indicated it is exploring additional targeted interventions to address significant AI-related national security risks.