The Digital Regulation Cooperation Forum (DRCF) has launched a call for input seeking views on how best to manage the risks that artificial intelligence poses to consumers.

As we have commented upon previously (for example, here), the DRCF brings together the Competition and Markets Authority, the Information Commissioner’s Office, Ofcom, and the Financial Conduct Authority to consider developments in digital markets and develop consistent regulatory responses.

The call for input is part of the DRCF’s wider work on ‘consumer interest and AI’, which explores how consumers feel about the risks of generative and agentic AI.  An earlier call for input sought to understand consumers’ attitudes about the risks associated with AI, and the extent to which they would be prepared to tolerate such risks in exchange for the benefits of adopting AI.

Equipped with a better understanding of consumers’ perceptions of the risks associated with AI, the DRCF is now turning to the question of how consumers, industry, regulators, and policymakers can each contribute to managing those risks. Importantly, it makes clear that expecting consumers to manage AI risks themselves is unlikely to be sufficient given the complexity, opacity and speed of AI.

It therefore seeks views on broad questions of what regulatory tools, compliance frameworks and market interventions are needed to protect consumers, as well as seeking views from industry and others on a number of specific matters including:

• Should consumers have a right to opt out of AI, and if not, on what legal basis should their personal data be used?
• Is informed and meaningful ‘consent’ the right lever to ensure that a consumer is protected and aware of risks? Are there any other levers that could be used, such as cooling-off periods, a right to opt-out of using AI, or requests that resemble cookies?
• Who should be held accountable, and to what extent, for AI risks materialising? Consumers, firms (including integrators, developers), or regulators?
• Do ‘tolerable risks’ exist for consumers in these contexts, and if so, how should policymakers, regulators, and industry define and operationalise them?

The Call for Input closes on 2 September 2026, and can be found here.