Finance
UK privacy watchdog warns over AI-generated images in joint statement
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on February 23, 2026
1 min readLast updated: February 23, 2026
Quick Summary
Britain’s ICO and dozens of global regulators warned about AI-generated images of identifiable people without consent. They urge proactive safeguards, regulator engagement, and stronger protections for children.
UK privacy regulator warns on AI-made images in global joint statement
Regulators Warn on AI-Generated Images
LONDON, Feb 23 (Reuters) - Britain's privacy watchdog published a joint statement with dozens of international authorities on Monday, setting out concerns over images generated by artificial intelligence which depict identifiable individuals without their consent.
Protecting Privacy and Dignity
Proactive Compliance and Safeguards
"We call on organisations to engage proactively with regulators, implement robust safeguards from the outset, and ensure that technological advancement does not come at the expense of privacy, dignity, safety," the statement published by the Information Commissioner’s Office said.
Potential Harms to Children
The signatories are especially concerned about potential harms to children, the ICO added.
Reporting and Editing Credits
(Reporting by Sam Tabahriti, writing by Sarah Young, editing by William James)
Key Takeaways
- •Britain’s ICO issued a joint statement with global privacy authorities warning about AI-generated images of identifiable people without consent.
- •Regulators urge organisations to engage proactively with authorities and build safeguards into AI systems from the outset.
- •The statement stresses privacy, dignity and safety, with specific concern for potential harms to children.
- •It calls for robust consent, transparency, and rapid removal mechanisms for harmful imagery.
- •AI developers and platforms face heightened compliance expectations under UK GDPR and international standards.
Frequently Asked Questions about UK privacy watchdog warns over AI-generated images in joint statement
1What is the main topic?
The UK Information Commissioner’s Office, with international regulators, issued a joint statement warning about AI-generated images that depict identifiable individuals without consent and urging stronger safeguards.
2Who signed the statement?
The ICO and dozens of privacy and data protection authorities worldwide, coordinated through international forums, endorsed the statement highlighting global concern and cooperation.
3What does this mean for businesses using AI?
Organisations should implement consent and age protections, embed technical and organisational safeguards by design, ensure transparency and rapid takedowns, and engage proactively with regulators to comply with data protection laws.
