A Charity Commission communiqué published Oct. 30 says regulators agreed to form a digital-transformation and artificial-intelligence (AI) group, while some reported increases in fully AI-generated charity applications and campaign-style complaints.
The regulators met in Ireland on Oct. 19-20, 2026, at an event hosted by Ireland’s Charities Regulator. The communiqué characterized the gathering as involving nine nations. Its list named Australia, Canada, England and Wales, Ireland, the Isle of Man, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Singapore, along with a representative of the U.S. National Association of State Charity Officials.
The group is intended to let regulators compare approaches to digital change and assess appropriate uses of AI in oversight. The communiqué also raised the possibility of bad actors using AI to bypass regulatory processes, while recognizing potential workplace benefits. It gave no details about the group’s membership, schedule or terms of reference.
Beyond technology, participants discussed a sustained rise in charity registration applications and greater complexity in those submissions. They also addressed staff training, engagement with charity trustees and regulators’ use of statutory powers. The communiqué provided no figures or timeframe for the registration trend.
The regulators discussed their role in helping charities comply with Financial Action Task Force (FATF) standards. They pointed to cross-border money flows that support charities’ work for vulnerable people and communities, without giving an amount. Participants also agreed to consider reinstating a separate policy working group.
Professor Oonagh Breen spoke about charity regulation amid eroding public trust. The communiqué said she used international statistics to illustrate links between public confidence and external factors, but gave no figures. The meeting also covered regulatory approaches and geopolitical challenges facing charities.
The regulators plan online meetings every three months until their next gathering, which a different member will host. The communiqué gave no date for that meeting and did not name its host.
