Recruitment Watch Issue 29: June 2025 Editor's note Welcome to this special AI edition of Recruitment Watch, where we explore the AI legal issues that are currently impacting the recruitment services sector. There are clear benefits that AI can bring to the recruitment sector. AI can be used as a tool within the business to streamline processes by automating repetitive tasks and allowing recruiters to focus on more strategic activities, such as building relationships with candidates and understanding the market better. AI can efficiently sift through large volumes of applications, identify the most suitable candidates, and even assist in scheduling interviews, saving both time and resources. It can aid decision-making by helping organisations forecast hiring needs and identify potential talent gaps, ensuring they remain competitive in the market. Read the full note News AI in the workplace: Are AI tools discriminating on your behalf? AI tools are now a common feature of recruitment processes and can be a valuable addition to any HR department when placing job advertisements, reviewing job applications or carrying out interviews, for example. However, by using AI assisted recruitment tools there is a risk of unwittingly discriminating against applicants. News EHRC guidance on discriminatory job adverts highlights risks of using generative AI in recruitment The Equality and Human Rights Commission recently updated its guidance for those placing or publishing job advertisements, to help employers avoid using discriminatory adverts. The revised guidance is a timely reminder for employers to take care when using generative AI tools to draft job advertisements, as AI-created output may include biases that affect the diversity of job applicants and can result in discrimination. News AI in recruitment: Navigating the challenges of inferred special category data In order to help speed up processes and find the best talent, employers are increasingly turning to Artificial Intelligence (AI) to assist with recruitment. However, concerns could arise under data protection law, if the use of some features of these tools lead to discrimination based on the inference of special category data, such as race or religion. Such categories of personal data will often also constitute protected characteristics for the purposes of the Equality Act 2010. News Data protection implications of using AI tools in recruitment The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has recently issued data protection guidance to organisations procuring, or looking to procure, Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools for the purposes of recruitment. News AI in Recruitment: Legal Insights for Mergers and Acquisitions As many people are all too well aware, recruitment can be a long and drawn-out process. In order to maximise efficiency and find the best talent, AI and machine learning are increasingly being relied upon to assist with recruitment. In this fast-evolving world, buying or selling a recruitment business powered by AI presents unique challenges and opportunities. Hub AI in the workplace This series examines AI's growing impact on recruitment, HR and employee management, highlighting the importance of understanding the regulatory, legal and commercial issues that arise from its use. News MDR ONE: Global employment law support MDR ONE provides centralised global employment law support and data-led insights to multinational companies, including those in the recruitment sector. Subscribe Never miss a publication by signing up to our mailing list Subscribe Recruitment Watch: Subscribe Recruitment Watch Issues Previous Issue 29 Jun 2025 Issue 28 Mar 2025 Issue 27 Nov 2024 Issue 26 Jul 2024 Issue 25 Apr 2024 Issue 24 Oct 2023 Issue 23 May 2023 Issue 22 Nov 2022 Issue 21 Mar 2022 Issue 20 Feb 2021 Issue 19 Oct 2020 Issue 18 Mar 2020 Issue 17 Dec 2019 Issue 16 Sep 2019 Issue 15 Mar 2019 Issue 13 Sep 2018 Issue 12 Jul 2018 Issue 11 Mar 2018 Issue 10 Dec 2017 Issue 9 Sep 2017 Share
News AI in the workplace: Are AI tools discriminating on your behalf? AI tools are now a common feature of recruitment processes and can be a valuable addition to any HR department when placing job advertisements, reviewing job applications or carrying out interviews, for example. However, by using AI assisted recruitment tools there is a risk of unwittingly discriminating against applicants.
News EHRC guidance on discriminatory job adverts highlights risks of using generative AI in recruitment The Equality and Human Rights Commission recently updated its guidance for those placing or publishing job advertisements, to help employers avoid using discriminatory adverts. The revised guidance is a timely reminder for employers to take care when using generative AI tools to draft job advertisements, as AI-created output may include biases that affect the diversity of job applicants and can result in discrimination.
News AI in recruitment: Navigating the challenges of inferred special category data In order to help speed up processes and find the best talent, employers are increasingly turning to Artificial Intelligence (AI) to assist with recruitment. However, concerns could arise under data protection law, if the use of some features of these tools lead to discrimination based on the inference of special category data, such as race or religion. Such categories of personal data will often also constitute protected characteristics for the purposes of the Equality Act 2010.
News Data protection implications of using AI tools in recruitment The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has recently issued data protection guidance to organisations procuring, or looking to procure, Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools for the purposes of recruitment.
News AI in Recruitment: Legal Insights for Mergers and Acquisitions As many people are all too well aware, recruitment can be a long and drawn-out process. In order to maximise efficiency and find the best talent, AI and machine learning are increasingly being relied upon to assist with recruitment. In this fast-evolving world, buying or selling a recruitment business powered by AI presents unique challenges and opportunities.
Hub AI in the workplace This series examines AI's growing impact on recruitment, HR and employee management, highlighting the importance of understanding the regulatory, legal and commercial issues that arise from its use.
News MDR ONE: Global employment law support MDR ONE provides centralised global employment law support and data-led insights to multinational companies, including those in the recruitment sector.