ICO publishes guidance for public authorities dealing with AI-generated FOI requests

The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has published public authorities confidently handle Freedom of Information (FOI) requests that involve the use of artificial intelligence (AI). 

ICO has said that FOI practitioners are talking about the growing impact of AI on their work. Public authorities are seeing an increase in the volume and complexity of requests generated using AI tools, including requests that misquote legislation or require significant clarification before they can be processed. 

The new guidance is designed to address these day-to-day challenges and help organisations meet their statutory obligations while continuing to operate effectively.

The guidance covers areas such as requests generated using AI that misinterpret or misquote FOI legislation; managing higher volumes of requests that require clarification or refinement; and maintaining fair and consistent handling of requests, regardless of how they are created.

Deborah Clark, Upstream Regulation Manager at the Information Commissioner’s Office, said: “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.”