UK MPs call for AI rights bill as existing laws fail to protect human rights

The UK's Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR) has published a 100-page report concluding that existing laws around the world are failing to protect people from human rights abuses enabled by artificial intelligence. The committee, made up of cross-party MPs and peers, is calling for a dedicated AI Bill.

What the committee found

"Nowhere in the world, including the UK, has a current legislative and regulatory approach to AI that is fit for purpose," said committee chair Alex Sobel MP. The report identifies specific abuses already occurring: AI is being used to generate sexualised images of women and girls without consent, to scan faces without permission, and to spread misinformation. The JCHR argues the current legal landscape is "fragmented and difficult to navigate", leaving major gaps in protection.

What the AI Bill should include

The committee proposes a single, independent AI oversight body on a statutory basis. The Bill should classify AI systems by risk level, impose more demanding obligations on high-risk systems, and cover all stages of the AI lifecycle. Crucially, some applications of AI should be "prohibited outright" because they are incompatible with fundamental rights — including subliminal manipulation and inappropriate use of biometric or profiling data.

Backdrop: global AI slowdown debate

The committee's report comes as debate intensifies over the pace of AI development. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei has publicly proposed a global AI slowdown plan. Both OpenAI's Sam Altman and Elon Musk have voiced support. US President Trump, however, rejected calls for a slowdown, saying the US must stay ahead of China in the AI race. The JCHR report adds legislative urgency to what has become an increasingly heated global argument.