UK deletes massive court database after AI data sharing leak
A critical transparency tool for journalists has been wiped by the government.
Deep Dive
The UK Ministry of Justice has ordered the immediate deletion of Courtsdesk, the nation's largest court reporting database used by over 1,500 journalists. The platform tracked magistrates' court cases, revealing that 1.6 million hearings proceeded without press notice. HMCTS claims the shutdown was due to "unauthorised sharing" of court data with a third-party AI company, while critics warn it cripples judicial transparency and open justice.
Why It Matters
This erodes public oversight of the legal system and sets a dangerous precedent for government data control.