AI infrastructure, copyright litigation and public-sector adoption in the UK

In the last fortnight the UK has pursued three intersecting tracks for AI governance. First there is a strong focus on infrastructure and regional industrial policy through the creation of AI Growth Zones and associated data-centre commitments. Second the High Court has handed down a landmark judgment in Getty Images v Stability AI which clarifies the limits of UK copyright law in relation to model training and recognises a narrower field of trade mark liability. Third the state continues to expand operational AI use in justice and planning systems while regulators refine their strategic approach to AI and biometrics. Together these developments stress territoriality, infrastructure, and institutional practice rather than a single AI statute.

AI infrastructure zones and cross-border copyright pressure

  • UK: New AI Growth Zone confirmed in North Wales. The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) announced that North Wales will host a new AI Growth Zone expected to create more than 3,400 jobs and help unlock up to £100 billion of investment in AI-enabled data-centre infrastructure and related industries.

UK child-safety AI controls and UK–Netherlands innovation pact

  • In the UK, the Internet Watch Foundation welcomed new rules under the forthcoming amendments to the Crime and Policing Bill that will allow AI models to be tested proactively for their ability to generate child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Reports show AI‑generated CSAM‑related incidents more than doubled from 199 in 2024 to 426 in 2025.

Provenance and transparency move forward

  • UK defence evaluation tool launches. The Defence AI Centre introduced the AI Model Arena to assess AI systems for defence procurement, signalling stricter evaluation, benchmarking and assurance pathways for vendors.

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