UK Public Supports Stronger AI Regulation

Multiple surveys and polling exercises have consistently shown that the UK public:

• Supports government regulation of AI rather than industry self-regulation
• Wants AI systems to be tested for safety before deployment
• Is concerned about AI’s impact on jobs, privacy, and autonomous decision-making
• Believes democratic institutions should have oversight of AI development
• Does not trust AI companies to regulate themselves adequately

This creates a democratic deficit: the public wants stronger regulation than the government is providing, while AI companies lobby for lighter-touch approaches.