EHRC & ICO plans for 2024/25

The Equality and Human Rights Commission has published its business plan for 2024/25. Setting outs its priorities for the next year, those most relevant to employers are:

• Tackling sexual harassment in the workplace: They will:
  • Lead a campaign to prepare employers for the new duty to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace expected to come into force in October 2024
  • Update their sexual harassment technical guidance
  • Consider where regulatory action needs to be taken to tackle breaches
  • Evaluate their Preventing Sexual Harassment at Work toolkit for the hospitality sector and consider how this might be adapted for other sectors

• Support change in uniformed services:
  • Implement a strategic programme to tackle discrimination, harassment and victimisation in the fire services, police and armed forces

• Regulate AI and tackle digital exclusion, in particular:
  • Older and disabled people accessing local services
  • Use of AI in recruitment
  • Developing solutions to address bias and discrimination in AI systems
  • Police use of facial recognition technology

In addition to the EHRC’s focus on the risk of discrimination from AI, the Information Commissioner’s Office has published Regulating AI:The ICO’s strategic approach, which sets out its views on and approach to:

• The opportunities and risks of AI
• The role of data protection law
• The ICO’s work on AI
• Upcoming developments:
  • Consultation on generative AI
  • Consultation on biometric classification
  • Updated guidance on AI and data protection