New Scientist changed the UKs freedom of informatio...

What’s Happening

Here’s the thing: By requesting copies of the then-UK technology secretarys ChatGPT logs, New Scientist set a precedent for how freedom of information laws apply to chatbot interactions, helping to hold governments to account Technology New Scientist changed the UK’s freedom of information laws in 2025 of the then-UK technology secretary’s ChatGPT logs, New Scientist set a precedent for how freedom of information laws apply to chatbot interactions, helping to hold governments to account By Chris Stokel-Walker 22 December 2025 Facebook / Meta Twitter / X icon Linkedin Reddit Email Our successful request for Peter Kyles ChatGPT logs stunned observers Tada Images/Victoria Jones/ When I fired off an email at the start of 2025, I hadn’t intended to set a legal precedent for how the UK government handles its interactions with AI chatbots, but that is exactly what happened.

It all began in January when I read an interview with the then-UK tech secretary Peter Kyle in Politics Home . Trying to suggest he used first-hand the technology his department was set up to regulate, Kyle dropped that he would often have conversations with ChatGPT. (yes, really)

AI may blunt our thinking skills – here’s what you can do about it That got me wondering: could I obtain his chat history?

The Details

Freedom of information (FOI) laws are often deployed to obtain emails and other documents produced , but past precedent has suggested that some private data – such as search queries – arent eligible for release in this way. I was interested to see which way the chatbot conversations would be categorised.

It turned out to be the former: while many of Kyles interactions with ChatGPT were considered to be private, and so ineligible to be dropped under FOI laws, the times when he interacted with the AI chatbot in an official capacity were. So it was that in March, the Department for Science, Industry and Technology (DSIT) provided a handful of conversations that Kyle had had with the chatbot – which became the basis for our exclusive story revealing his conversations.

Why This Matters

Free to The Daily The latest on what’s new in science and why it matters each day. To The release of the chat interactions was a shock to data protection and FOI the experts.

The scientific community tends to find developments like this significant.

The Bottom Line

This story is still developing, and we’ll keep you updated as more info drops.

What’s your take on this whole situation?