Original document : https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-for-organisations-using-the-algorithmic-transparency-recording-standard

Change description : 2025-05-08 11:18:00: Guidance for public sector bodies updated. [Guidance and regulation]

Showing diff : 2023-01-05 09:30:57.714554911 +00:00..2025-05-08 10:18:50.714590123 +00:00

Guidance

Guidance for organisations using the Algorithmic Transparency Recording Standard

This guidance has been designed to support public sector teams completing ATRSalgorithmic records. transparency reports.

From:
Government
Central Digital Serviceand Data Office and Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation
Published
5 January 2023
Last updated
8 May 2025 — See all updates

Documents

Algorithmic Transparency Recording Standard - guidanceGuidance for publicPublic sectorSector bodiesBodies

HTML

Details

Definitions

ThisAlgorithm

An guidancealgorithm helpsis organisationsa throughset theof processstep-by-step ofinstructions. completingIn artificial intelligence, the Algorithmicalgorithm Transparencytells Recordingthe (ATRS)machine templatehow andto publishingfind theanswers completedto recorda question or solutions to thea GOV.UKproblem.

Algorithmic repository.tool

An Italgorithmic appliestool bothis toa publicproduct, sectorapplication, organisationsor whichdevice arethat requiredsupports toor publishsolves ATRSa recordsspecific problem, using complex algorithms. You can develop a tool in-house or buy from a third party. To help non-experts understand this work, we’re using ‘algorithmic tool’ as parta deliberately broad term that covers different applications of AI and complex algorithms.

Model

A model is the mandatoryoutput policyof (thosean inalgorithm centralonce government),it’s been trained on a data set. It combines the rules, numbers, and thoseany wishingother algorithm-specific data structures needed to publishmake ATRSpredictions. recordsA onmodel represents what was learned by a voluntarymachine basis.learning algorithm.

Updates

Which totools does this pageapply to?

Published

The 5Algorithmic JanuaryTransparency 2023

LastRecording updatedStandard 8is Maymost 2025 tools href="#full-history">+that showeither:

  • have alla updates

    1. Guidanceon fora decision-making process with direct or indirect public sectoreffect, bodiesor

    2. directly updated.interact with the general public.

To Januarydecide 2023

Firstwhether published.your tool has a public effect, you might want to consider whether usage of the tool could:

  • materially affect individuals, organisations or groups

  • have a legal, economic, or similar impact on individuals, organisations or groups

  • affect procedural or substantive rights

  • impact eligibility for, receipt of, or denial of a programme

    • Examples of tools that could fall within the scope of these criteria are:

      Sign

    • a upmachine learning algorithm providing members of the public with a score to help a government department determine their eligibility for emailsbenefits or(impact printon thisdecision pagemaking and public effect)

    • a chatbot on a local authority’s website interacting directly with the public which responds to individual queries and directs members of the public to appropriate content on the website (Direct interaction with the public)

    Published 5 January 2023

    Update history

    2025-05-08 11:18
    Guidance for public sector bodies updated.

    2023-01-05 09:30
    First published.