This briefing outlines techUK’s position on the changes proposed by the Government to the automated decision making (ADM) regime, as outlined in Clause 80 of the Data (Use and Access) Bill. The briefing also highlights the potential benefits of ADM for the broader economy. techUK supports these reforms.
techUK also has broader briefing on the Data (Use and Access) Bill, which you can find here.
Background
The DUA Bill introduces a risk-based approach to ADM, distinguishing between low-risk and high-risk applications. This will empower organisations to implement ADM more widely, particularly in low-risk scenarios which make up the majority of ADM uses – such as service personalisation, faster logins, or initial credit eligibility checks.
At the same time, the Bill sets clear safeguards for high-risk ADM applications that could have legal or similarly significant effects on individuals, such as mortgage reviews, or employment decisions. These include requirements to inform individuals about automated processing, and give them rights to contest and seek human intervention on these decisions.
Importantly, for sensitive personal data, ADM will remain prohibited unless either explicit consent has been given, or the processing is both necessary for a contract / required by law AND serves a substantial public interest.
This approach is supported by the ICO, which has assessed that the new approach '…strikes a good balance between facilitating the benefits of automation and maintaining additional protection for special category data.'
The potential benefits of ADM
ADM offers transformative potential across both public and private sectors and, when combined with other provisions of the Bill, such as recognised legitimate interest, it can create significant societal benefits. By streamlining routine processes and enabling consistent service delivery, ADM helps organisations operate more efficiently and scale their services effectively.
For government services, this means faster processing times, better citizen experiences, and more responsive public services. It can also help reduce fraud, for instance, the Department for Work and Pensions estimates its algorithmic models for detecting Universal Credit fraud could save around £1.6bn by 2030-31.
ADM systems can also support consistent application of rules and policies across an organisation, reducing variability and increasing transparency in decision-making. This, in turn enables organisations to systematically review and refine their decision-making frameworks, fostering fair and equitable outcomes.
Combatting fraud: ADM could be used when analysing large amounts of data, including transaction history, device information, and customer behaviour, to identify patterns that are indicative of fraud and help identify suspicious transactions before they are processed. This could significantly bolster the government's anti-fraud strategy by enabling organisations to proactively identify and address fraudulent activities, protect consumers, and safeguard the integrity of the wider economy. This underscores the importance of incorporating ADM into the broader regulatory framework to ensure its responsible and ethical use.
Personalising services: A recent report from Microsoft has revealed nearly 60% of companies see providing more personalised customer experience as a relevant future application of AI, with ADM able to greatly improve the quality of the services they are providing. For example, Intuit’s TurboTax Live and QuickBooks Live use ADM to match customers with tax specialists or bookkeepers most relevant to their field. This gives businesses extra support to guide them through the process, address their unique financial situations and review and discuss documents together.
Supporting and augmenting UK public services: ADM can be used to improve the operation of public services. For example, the US Department of Veterans Affairs uses ADM to sort through and digitise paper letters, reducing turnaround time of this process by 90% and reducing the number of errors in doing so. Without ADM streamlining the process, employees would have to spend less time on helping veterans and more time inputting information themselves.
Automated decision making is an essential part of these very beneficial uses of data. With the reforms in the Bill, projects like these can be expanded and new ones created to boost the social value of UK data.
However, we also recognise the closely connected risks of AI technologies in amplifying existing inequalities and the role that a right to human review must play in significant decisions. This is essential to ensure that individuals have confidence that rigorous balancing tests are being conducted when decisions with significant or legal consequences are being made.
Learn more
We would be happy to send a full briefing outlining our full position on the Data Bill. We would also welcome the opportunity to meet to discuss the potential benefits of this legislation and how we can ensure that it delivers for the UK. For more information, or to arrange a meeting, please contact Audre Verseckaite at audre.verseckaite@techuk.org or Alice Campbell at alice.campbell@techuk.org,
Audre Verseckaite
Senior Policy Manager, Data & AI, techUK
Audre Verseckaite
Senior Policy Manager, Data & AI, techUK
Audre joined techUK in July 2023 as a Policy Manager for Data. Previously, she was a Policy Advisor in the Civil Service, where she worked on the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, and at HM Treasury on designing COVID-19 support schemes and delivering the Financial Services and Markets Bill. Before that, Audre worked at a public relations consultancy, advising public and private sector clients on their communications, public relations, and government affairs strategy.
Prior to this, Audre completed an MSc in Public Policy at the Korea Development Institute and a Bachelor's in International Relations and History from SOAS, University of London. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time outdoors, learning about new cultures through travel and food, and going on adventures.
Archie Breare joined techUK in September 2022 as the Telecoms Programme intern, and moved into the Policy and Public Affairs team as the Team Assistant in February 2023 and as Public Affairs Manager in September 2023
Before starting at techUK, Archie was a student at the University of Cambridge, completing an undergraduate degree in History and a master's degree in Modern British History.
In his spare time, he likes to read, discuss current affairs, and to try and persuade himself to cycle more.
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Antony Walker is deputy CEO of techUK, which he played a lead role in launching in November 2013.
Antony is a member of the senior leadership team and has overall responsibility for techUK’s policy work. Prior to his appointment in July 2012 Antony was chief executive of the Broadband Stakeholder Group (BSG), the UK’s independent advisory group on broadband policy. Antony was closely involved in the development of broadband policy development in the UK since the BSG was established in 2001 and authored several major reports to government. He also led the development of the UK’s world leading Open Internet Code of Practice that addresses the issue of net neutrality in the UK. Prior to setting up the BSG, Antony spent six years working in Brussels for the American Chamber of Commerce following and writing about telecoms issues and as a consultant working on EU social affairs and environmental issues. Antony is a graduate of Aberdeen University and KU Leuven and is also a Policy Fellow Alumni of the Centre for Science and Policy at Cambridge University.
As Head of Public Affairs, Alice supports techUK’s strategic engagement with Westminster, Whitehall and beyond. She regularly works to engage with ministers, members of the UK’s parliaments and senior civil servants on techUK’s work advocating for the role of technology in the UK’s economy as well as wider society.
Alice joined techUK in 2022. She has experience working at both a political monitoring company, leading on the tech, media and telecoms portfolio there, and also as an account manager in a Westminster-based public affairs agency. She has a degree from the University of Sheffield in Politics and Philosophy.
Edward leads the Digital Economy programme at techUK, which includes our work on online safety, fraud, and regulation for growth initiatives.
He has prior experience working for the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and has previously worked for a number of public affairs consultancies specialising in research and strategy, working with leading clients in the technology and financial services sectors.
Samiah Anderson is the Head of Digital Regulation at techUK.
With over six years of Government Affairs expertise, Samiah has built a solid reputation as a tech policy specialist, engaging regularly with UK Government Ministers, senior civil servants and UK Parliamentarians.
Before joining techUK, Samiah led several public affairs functions for international tech firms and coalitions at Burson Global (formerly Hill & Knowlton), delivering CEO-level strategic counsel on political, legislative, and regulatory issues in the UK, EU, US, China, India, and Japan. She is adept at mobilising multinational companies and industry associations, focusing on cross-cutting digital regulatory issues such as competition, artificial intelligence, and more.
She holds a BA (Hons) in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics from the University of London, where she founded the New School Economics Society, the Goldsmiths University chapter of Rethinking Economics.
Audre joined techUK in July 2023 as a Policy Manager for Data. Previously, she was a Policy Advisor in the Civil Service, where she worked on the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, and at HM Treasury on designing COVID-19 support schemes and delivering the Financial Services and Markets Bill. Before that, Audre worked at a public relations consultancy, advising public and private sector clients on their communications, public relations, and government affairs strategy.
Prior to this, Audre completed an MSc in Public Policy at the Korea Development Institute and a Bachelor's in International Relations and History from SOAS, University of London. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time outdoors, learning about new cultures through travel and food, and going on adventures.
Mia focuses on shaping a policy environment that fosters the expansion of the UK tech sector while maximising the transformative potential of technology across all industries.
Prior to joining techUK, Mia worked as a Senior Policy Adviser at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) within the Policy Unit.
Mia holds an MSc in International Development from the University of Manchester and a BA(Hons) in Politics and International Relations from the University of Nottingham.
Archie Breare joined techUK in September 2022 as the Telecoms Programme intern, and moved into the Policy and Public Affairs team as the Team Assistant in February 2023 and as Public Affairs Manager in September 2023
Before starting at techUK, Archie was a student at the University of Cambridge, completing an undergraduate degree in History and a master's degree in Modern British History.
In his spare time, he likes to read, discuss current affairs, and to try and persuade himself to cycle more.
Dani joined techUK in February 2025 as a Policy Manager in the Digital Regulation team.
Prior to this, Dani worked in political monitoring where she was a consultant for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. In this role, she developed a strong understanding of parliamentary procedure, closely following all of the major developments in the tech centre and working with several key stakeholders and regulators.
She has an undergraduate degree in History from the University of Bristol and an MPhil in Modern European History from the University of Cambridge.
Outside of tech, Dani has a strong interest in addiction policy, particularly towards drugs, having written her dissertation on the topic as well as several subsequent research projects. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking and following all things motoring, whether that be F1, MotoGP or Formula E.
Oliver is the team assistant for the Policy and Public Affairs teams, joining techUK in November of 2023. He assists the teams admistrative support, communication, and event production.
Prior to working at techUK, Oliver studied at Swansea and Bristol universities, attaining a masters in Policy Research. During this time he competed in debating competitions around the country where he discussed and deliberated various policy issues. Between his studies Oliver acted as a student assistant in mental health research for the SMaRteN student network.
Tess joined techUK as an Policy and Public Affairs Team Assistant in November of 2024. In this role, she supports areas such as administration, member communications and media content.
Before joining the Team, she gained experience working as an Intern in both campaign support for MPs and Councilors during the Local and General Election and working for the Casimir Pulaski Foundation. As well as working for multiple charities on issues such as the climate crisis, educational inequality and Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG). Tess obtained her Bachelors of Arts in Politics and International Relations from University of Nottingham.
