AI-generated complaints swamp UK public bodies and employers

UK MPs, local authorities, courts, schools and businesses are reporting large increases in AI-generated complaints and legal challenges, according to The Guardian. The volume and complexity of correspondence have risen sharply since the spread of tools like ChatGPT and Claude, with some local authorities now receiving complaints up to 200 pages long. Employment tribunal claims rose 28% year-on-year between April and June, reaching 14,000 cases, while the backlog of open claims hit 70,000.

AI-generated requests are often lengthy, repetitive and may contain errors or legal references from other jurisdictions, making them harder to process and respond to. The Information Commissioner’s Office noted that even inaccurate or misdirected AI-generated requests must still be answered by human staff. Local authorities and businesses say this is adding to already stretched resources and increasing legal costs, with some employers expecting to spend tens of thousands of pounds on legal fees.

For regulated firms, the rise in AI-generated correspondence increases operational risk and may require changes to internal processes for triaging and responding to complaints. The trend also raises questions for regulators about how to manage the volume and quality of digital submissions. Watching for further guidance from the ICO and employment tribunals will be important.