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Scottish Chartered Accountants Call for Stronger Government AI Regulation
When 60 % of Scotland’s top accountants signaled that the UK government should tighten its grip on artificial intelligence, the profession’s voice reverberated across the country.
A fresh survey of more than 400 members of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS) released on 3 July 2026 shows that six in ten chartered accountants (CAs) want the government to take a more active role in regulating AI. While only 15 % of respondents say they do not, a further 28 % strongly agree that regulation is needed. The findings reflect a growing unease within the accounting profession about the rapid pace of AI development and its impact on business, finance and decision‑making.
IC AS CEO Gail Boag said the survey demonstrates a “clear and growing consensus that AI can’t continue to develop without stronger rules and accountability.” She added that effective regulation is key to unlocking AI’s potential and building trust in the technology. Boag’s remarks echo the profession’s broader concern that without oversight, AI could erode the very standards that accountants rely on.
The survey builds on earlier IC AS‑commissioned research into generative AI and professional judgement. That March study found that 72 % of the accounting professionals surveyed were worried that generative AI could produce errors or incorrect decisions, and 52 % cited risks around client data privacy and confidentiality. Together, the two studies paint a picture of sustained apprehension about AI’s risks and a clear appetite for a regulatory framework that balances innovation with protection.
Boag stressed that any regulatory approach must be proportionate, practical and strike the right balance between enabling innovation and protecting against misuse and misinformation. She noted that AI regulation remains reserved to Westminster, making coordinated leadership across the UK essential to give businesses confidence to invest in and adopt AI. The call for regulation comes at a time when the UK government is reportedly preparing a major revamp of its AI strategy, a development that may give the profession’s views a front‑row seat.
Chartered accountants occupy a unique position in shaping future regulation. Their expertise in governance, audit, ethics and risk means they are well positioned to help policymakers develop practical, effective frameworks and support businesses to implement them. The survey indicates that a majority of IC AS members see themselves as part of that process.
The profession’s concerns echo similar worries in other sectors. The risk of AI hallucinations – the generation of false or misleading information – and the potential for data breaches are challenges regulators are already addressing in finance, healthcare and public services. The IC AS findings reinforce the need for clear rules that address both the benefits and the risks of AI.
As the UK moves forward, the profession’s stance may shape the shape of any new AI policy. The survey shows that a majority of chartered accountants want the government to step up its regulatory role, while a minority remain unconvinced. The profession’s call for proportionate, practical regulation underscores the importance of balancing innovation with accountability. The next steps will likely involve dialogue between IC AS, industry stakeholders and policymakers to develop a framework that protects clients, maintains professional standards and encourages responsible AI adoption.
In short, the IC AS survey demonstrates that a significant majority of chartered accountants in Scotland support stronger government oversight of AI. Combined with earlier research on generative AI risks, the profession appears ready to engage in shaping regulatory frameworks. The UK government’s upcoming AI strategy revamp and the EU AI Act’s implementation will be key contexts for this engagement, while unresolved questions remain about the specific regulatory mechanisms, the extent of government involvement and how the profession’s expertise will be integrated into policy design.
A fresh survey of more than 400 members of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS) released on 3 July 2026 shows that six in ten chartered accountants (CAs) want the government to take a more active role in regulating AI. While only 15 % of respondents say they do not, a further 28 % strongly agree that regulation is needed. The findings reflect a growing unease within the accounting profession about the rapid pace of AI development and its impact on business, finance and decision‑making.
IC AS CEO Gail Boag said the survey demonstrates a “clear and growing consensus that AI can’t continue to develop without stronger rules and accountability.” She added that effective regulation is key to unlocking AI’s potential and building trust in the technology. Boag’s remarks echo the profession’s broader concern that without oversight, AI could erode the very standards that accountants rely on.
The survey builds on earlier IC AS‑commissioned research into generative AI and professional judgement. That March study found that 72 % of the accounting professionals surveyed were worried that generative AI could produce errors or incorrect decisions, and 52 % cited risks around client data privacy and confidentiality. Together, the two studies paint a picture of sustained apprehension about AI’s risks and a clear appetite for a regulatory framework that balances innovation with protection.
Boag stressed that any regulatory approach must be proportionate, practical and strike the right balance between enabling innovation and protecting against misuse and misinformation. She noted that AI regulation remains reserved to Westminster, making coordinated leadership across the UK essential to give businesses confidence to invest in and adopt AI. The call for regulation comes at a time when the UK government is reportedly preparing a major revamp of its AI strategy, a development that may give the profession’s views a front‑row seat.
Chartered accountants occupy a unique position in shaping future regulation. Their expertise in governance, audit, ethics and risk means they are well positioned to help policymakers develop practical, effective frameworks and support businesses to implement them. The survey indicates that a majority of IC AS members see themselves as part of that process.
The profession’s concerns echo similar worries in other sectors. The risk of AI hallucinations – the generation of false or misleading information – and the potential for data breaches are challenges regulators are already addressing in finance, healthcare and public services. The IC AS findings reinforce the need for clear rules that address both the benefits and the risks of AI.
As the UK moves forward, the profession’s stance may shape the shape of any new AI policy. The survey shows that a majority of chartered accountants want the government to step up its regulatory role, while a minority remain unconvinced. The profession’s call for proportionate, practical regulation underscores the importance of balancing innovation with accountability. The next steps will likely involve dialogue between IC AS, industry stakeholders and policymakers to develop a framework that protects clients, maintains professional standards and encourages responsible AI adoption.
In short, the IC AS survey demonstrates that a significant majority of chartered accountants in Scotland support stronger government oversight of AI. Combined with earlier research on generative AI risks, the profession appears ready to engage in shaping regulatory frameworks. The UK government’s upcoming AI strategy revamp and the EU AI Act’s implementation will be key contexts for this engagement, while unresolved questions remain about the specific regulatory mechanisms, the extent of government involvement and how the profession’s expertise will be integrated into policy design.
