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Good practice Imported

Algorithmic Transparency Recording Standard (UK)

United Kingdom · London · See the United Kingdom profile · See the London profile

Evidence: Observational / pre–post Top 6% 87/100 · Ask Evidence Copilot about this practice

The UK's ATRS is a public register documenting how government algorithmic tools work and affect people. World-first when launched in 2021, it became mandatory for central departments in 2025, with ~59 records published.

~59
Records published
Algorithmic Transparency Recording Standard (UK)

Details

Maturity
Scaling
Promoter
UK Government (DSIT / Responsible Technology Adoption Unit)
Keywords
Policy design & analysis, algorithmic accountability, governance, standard, transparency

Context

The Algorithmic Transparency Recording Standard (ATRS), first published in 2021, gives UK public bodies a structured template and public repository to document the algorithmic and AI tools they use, their purpose, data, and impact on decisions affecting citizens.

Objectives

As a governance practice rather than an AI system, ATRS aims to make government algorithmic and AI tool use transparent and accountable, an institutional response to cautionary cases like SyRI.

Activities

Public bodies are given a standard template and public repository to record their tools; in 2025 recording became mandatory for central-government departments and arm's-length bodies for tools that significantly influence decisions or interact with the public.

Results

About 59 records had been published at the time of writing, up from a handful the year before.

Conclusions

ATRS is internationally recognised as one of the first transparency interventions of its kind, and a model other governments are studying for accountable public-sector AI.

Implementation

Implementation detail (cost, timeline, staffing, conditions for success) is not yet available for this practice.

Commonly funded by

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Data sources

Where this practice's information was retrieved from, and when.

Attachments

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