Scottish AI Register: requirements, deadlines and compliance actions
What this label means
- Verified
- — a named reviewer opened the official source and confirmed the record; the date and the reviewer are shown.
- Pending review
- — linked to the official source and in the queue for a reviewer to confirm.
- Source-linked
- — linked to the official source, not yet confirmed by a reviewer.
On this page 7 sections
In brief
Scottish AI Register is a non-binding policy of Scotland (United Kingdom), issued by Scottish Government. Its current status is adopted. AI systems used or developed by Scottish public bodies. A public register of AI systems in use or in development in the Scottish public sector.
- Jurisdiction
- Scotland (United Kingdom)
- Instrument type
- Policy
- Status
- Adopted
- Legal force
- Non-binding (guidance, strategy or standard)
- Issuing body
- Scottish Government
- Official source
- Increasing AI transparency
- Verification
- Pending review · source-linked, checked 15 Oct 2026
What is Scottish AI Register?
A public register of AI systems in use or in development in the Scottish public sector. The government announced in March 2024 that registration would become mandatory, starting with its own departments, but a 2025 freedom-of-information response describes the register as voluntary with an expectation that public bodies use it.
Status note: Recorded on 15 October 2026 from search-engine extracts of the official pages listed; the official text could not be opened from the research environment, so every date and duty here is pending review against it.
Who does it apply to?
AI systems used or developed by Scottish public bodies.
Scottish public sector bodies.
- AI use cases
- AI in public services
- Risk categories
- Transparency obligations
- AI system types
- Automated decision-making system
When do the requirements apply?
Launched March 2023; mandatory registration announced 28 March 2024.
Recorded as voluntary: the 2024 announcement and a 13 August 2025 FOI response differ on whether registration is mandatory.
Official sources
-
Increasing AI transparency
Scottish Government · 28 Mar 2024 · Tier 1 source
-
Scottish AI Register
Scottish AI Alliance · Tier 2 source
Cite this record
AIPolicyTracker (2026). “Scottish AI Register” [AIPT-POL-0198, record version 1, not yet verified]. https://aipolicytracker.org/id/AIPT-POL-0198 (accessed 21 October 2026). Data licensed CC BY 4.0.
Permanent id AIPT-POL-0198: it never changes or gets reused, and its address keeps working if this page moves.
Cite the official text alongside it: Increasing AI transparency, Scottish Government, https://www.gov.scot/news/increasing-ai-transparency/.
BibTeX
@misc{aipolicytracker2026_scottishairegister,
author = {{AIPolicyTracker}},
title = {{Scottish AI Register}},
year = {2026},
howpublished = {\url{https://aipolicytracker.org/policies/uk-scottish-ai-register}},
url = {https://aipolicytracker.org/policies/uk-scottish-ai-register},
urldate = {2026-10-21},
note = {Data licensed CC BY 4.0. Accessed 21 October 2026}
}
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Change history
Record history
No change to this record's tracked fields has been recorded since 15 October 2026, when field-level history began.
Record version 1: Added in the October 2026 sub-national research round. Recorded on 15 October 2026 from search-engine extracts of the official pages listed; the official text could not be opened from the research environment, so every date and duty here is pending review against it. Every earlier wording is in the GitHub repository.
Frequently asked questions
Is Scottish AI Register in force?
Not yet. Scottish AI Register has been adopted.
Is Scottish AI Register legally binding?
No. Scottish AI Register is a policy; it sets expectations rather than legal requirements, unless another instrument gives it force.
Who does Scottish AI Register apply to?
AI systems used or developed by Scottish public bodies.
When does Scottish AI Register apply?
Launched March 2023; mandatory registration announced 28 March 2024.
Where is the official text of Scottish AI Register?
The official text is published by Scottish Government at https://www.gov.scot/news/increasing-ai-transparency/ (Increasing AI transparency). This record links to it and is checked against it.
Disclaimer: informational only, not legal advice. Verify every claim against the linked official sources and consult a qualified lawyer before acting.