Ministers Mull Allowing Private Firms to Make Profit From NHS Data In AI Push

The UK government is exploring allowing private companies to utilize anonymized NHS data for AI-driven medical advancements. This initiative aims to boost the UK economy and accelerate medical breakthroughs. Concerns about patient privacy and ethical implications are acknowledged but downplayed. Keir Starmer advocates for this approach, emphasizing the potential economic benefits and medical progress. The plan involves creating new datasets accessible to startups and researchers. These datasets will include anonymized NHS records, alongside data from other sources like the National Archives and the BBC. The government assures it will maintain control over the data despite allowing commercial use. Balancing economic growth with privacy and ethical considerations is central to this proposal. The decision comes amidst economic challenges and pressure to stimulate growth.