AI for SEND administration purposes

1) I was just wondering if the council now uses AI for SEND administration purposes
2) if so, which AI does it use?
3) Is there a policy around this
4) is it possible to opt out of AI processing of our data? 

1) Yes, AI is used ad-hoc for administrative purposes. Please note, this is strictly for administrative purposes and not related to decision making about service users. The SEND team do not use a dedicated AI system to handle personal data about families.

2) Microsoft Co-Pilot

3) Lincolnshire County Council has a formal AI policy guiding ethical, secure, and innovative use of AI across council services, complemented by sector-specific guidance and strategic partnerships.

This is currently under review. The council uses Data Protection Impact Assessments and Information Assurance Assessments when required, to risk assess the use of technologies within new projects (including AI), where they are used to deliver services involving processing of personal data, or other types of information. Our risk assessments include covering all the Data Protection Principles.

Our relevant policies are published here: https://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/directory/34/policies strategies-and-plans/category/24

4) When required, our processes for risk assessing projects involving use of AI when handling personal data, cover the nature of any impact on the rights and freedoms of individuals. In some scenarios, offering service users the chance to opt-out of AI processing, may be an appropriate means to mitigate any specific risks associated with such processing.

The ways in which the SEND team currently use AI, are limited to uses of Microsoft Co-Pilot to aid administrative efficiency. Human intervention is maintained and our employees are advised not to enter personal data or sensitive terms into Copilot prompts, when asking Copilot to also look at external sources. Our lawful bases for processing personal data across Children and Families services, are set out here: https://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/directory record/62060/children-s-and-families-services-privacy-notice