AI Transparency
How TechLocal Uses Artificial Intelligence
TechLocal is committed to being transparent about how we use artificial intelligence and automated decision-making. This page explains our current AI usage, future plans, and your rights. We comply with the EU AI Act (Regulation 2024/1689) and UK AI governance principles.
At TechLocal, we believe that transparency about how technology works is fundamental to building trust. This page explains how we use artificial intelligence and automated systems on the platform, what decisions they influence, and what rights you have.
We are committed to the principles of the EU AI Act (Regulation 2024/1689) and UK AI governance frameworks, including the UK Government's pro-innovation approach to AI regulation. We apply these principles regardless of whether specific requirements have yet come into force.
Current Status: No AI-Powered Decisions
As of March 2026, TechLocal does not use AI systems to make any decisions that affect your access to the platform, your visibility to employers, or your eligibility for opportunities. All significant platform decisions are made by humans.
2.1 What We Currently Use
| Feature | Type | AI Involvement | Risk Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Profile search and filtering | Algorithmic | Rule-based matching on stated criteria (skills, location, availability). No machine learning. | Minimal |
| Profile quality suggestions | Informational | Optional tips to help students improve their profiles. Advisory only, no enforcement. | Minimal |
| Email notifications | Automated | Triggered by platform events (new contact request, etc.). No AI decision-making. | Minimal |
| Content moderation flags | Rule-based | Keyword-based flagging for human review. No automated content removal. | Limited |
2.2 What We Do Not Use
- AI-based candidate scoring or ranking based on predicted suitability
- Automated CV screening or parsing for hiring decisions
- Facial recognition, emotion detection, or biometric analysis
- Chatbots making decisions about user access or eligibility
- Predictive analytics about individual career outcomes
- Any system classified as High-Risk under EU AI Act Annex III
We intend to develop AI-assisted features to improve the platform experience. Any future AI features will be deployed only after completing the following process:
- Risk assessment: Classification under the EU AI Act risk framework before development begins
- Data Protection Impact Assessment: DPIA conducted where AI processes personal data in new ways
- Bias assessment: Testing for discriminatory outcomes across protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010
- Human oversight design: Ensuring meaningful human review at all decision points
- Transparency update: This page and our Privacy Policy will be updated before any AI feature goes live
- User notification: Registered users will be notified by email of material changes to AI processing
Planned Features Under Consideration
| Feature | Purpose | Expected Risk Level | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smart profile suggestions | Help students improve their profiles based on what employers search for | Minimal / Limited | Under evaluation |
| Talent matching recommendations | Suggest relevant student profiles to employers based on role requirements | Limited | Under evaluation |
| Skills gap analysis | Show students which skills are in demand in their region | Minimal | Under evaluation |
No timeline is confirmed for any of these features. We will not deploy any AI feature until we are satisfied it meets our standards for fairness, transparency, and human oversight.
We maintain a firm commitment to human-in-the-loop design across all platform operations. This means:
- No AI system on TechLocal makes final decisions about employment, access to opportunities, or individual scoring
- All AI outputs are advisory and clearly labelled as such in the interface
- Profile approval and moderation decisions are made by human administrators
- Employer verification is conducted by human team members
- Any user can request human review of any automated output that affects them
In accordance with Article 14 of the EU AI Act, we ensure that human oversight is not merely cosmetic. Our human reviewers have the authority, training, and information needed to override or disregard any automated system output.
The EU AI Act (Regulation 2024/1689) establishes a risk-based framework for AI systems. We classify all TechLocal AI features against this framework:
Risk Levels Explained
| Risk Level | Definition | TechLocal Status |
|---|---|---|
| Unacceptable | AI systems that pose a clear threat to fundamental rights. Banned under the Act. | Not applicable. We do not deploy any such systems. |
| High-Risk | AI systems in sensitive areas listed in Annex III (employment, education access, etc.). Subject to strict requirements. | Not applicable. No TechLocal features are classified as High-Risk. |
| Limited Risk | AI systems with specific transparency obligations under Article 50. | Some features may fall here. We apply full transparency labelling. |
| Minimal Risk | AI systems with no specific requirements beyond voluntary codes of conduct. | Most current features. We apply transparency measures voluntarily. |
If we ever develop a feature that could be classified as High-Risk under Annex III, particularly in the category of "AI systems intended to be used for recruitment or selection of natural persons", we will comply with all requirements including conformity assessment, registration in the EU database, and ongoing monitoring obligations.
Under UK GDPR, EU GDPR, and the EU AI Act, you have the following rights in relation to automated processing:
- Right to information: You have the right to know when AI is being used and how it affects you. This page fulfils that obligation.
- Right to human review: You can request human review of any automated output or decision that affects you, at any time. Email privacy@techlocal.uk.
- Right not to be subject to solely automated decisions: Under Article 22 UK GDPR, you have the right not to be subject to a decision based solely on automated processing that produces legal effects or similarly significant effects. TechLocal does not make such decisions.
- Right to explanation: You can request an explanation of how any automated system on TechLocal has processed your data or influenced what you see.
- Right to object: You can object to processing based on legitimate interests, including any future AI-based processing, under Article 21 UK GDPR.
If and when we develop AI features, we commit to the following data practices:
- AI features will be developed using aggregated and pseudonymised data wherever possible
- We will not sell, license, or share your data to train AI models for third parties
- Any AI model trained on platform data will be used solely to improve TechLocal for its users
- We will conduct and document Legitimate Interests Assessments for all AI-related data processing
- Individual user data will not be used for AI training without appropriate legal basis and safeguards
For full details on how we process personal data, see our Privacy Policy.
We recognise that AI systems can perpetuate or amplify existing biases. We are committed to preventing this:
- All AI features will be tested for discriminatory outcomes across protected characteristics before deployment
- We will conduct regular bias audits of any AI features in production
- Where bias is identified, we will take corrective action before continued deployment
- We will not use AI to screen, filter, or rank candidates based on characteristics protected under the Equality Act 2010
- Our AI development process includes diverse testing scenarios and edge case analysis
We align with the Equality and Human Rights Commission guidance on algorithmic decision-making and the Alan Turing Institute framework for AI ethics.
If you have any questions about our use of AI, automated systems, or this transparency statement, please contact us:
- AI and data protection enquiries: privacy@techlocal.uk
- General enquiries: hello@techlocal.uk
- Post: Digital Towns Ltd, Launchpad, Teesside University, Middlesbrough, TS1 3BX
We will respond to AI-related enquiries within 10 business days.
Questions About Our AI Practices?
We are committed to transparency. If anything on this page is unclear, please reach out.
privacy@techlocal.ukTechLocal is a product of Digital Towns Ltd. Registered in England and Wales.