Digital Explainer – Cyber And AI Regulation In The UK

The UK is currently considering a new law that, while framed as cybersecurity measure, has implications far beyond cyber security alone. The Cyber Security and Resilience Bill is widely viewed as focusing on governance and critical infrastructure, however, debates in Parliament are already demonstrating how broad the proposed changes will be for industry, and AI use is a major part of the debate.

Some considered the Bill’s first draft as a missed opportunity not to set standards on the use of AI and quantum computing technologies. Others in Government do not want it expanding to be too much of an omnibus. Another shift in relatively short time this year also has far reaching consequences, because in the UK. Government departments do the vital work of providing the reasons for the proposed laws, but here the department that proposed this Bill – the former Department for Science, Technology and Innovation – no longer exists. The new Bill is now being supported by the Department for