News and Insights

Shadow AI: The Governance Risk Facing Law Enforcement, Justice and Public Sector Organisations

Written by Stuart Herring | Jul 22, 2026 1:05:29 AM

Artificial Intelligence is changing how organisations work, helping staff draft documents, summarise reports, transcribe recordings and locate critical information faster. For law enforcement, courts, local government and parliamentary services, the productivity benefits are significant.

But rapid AI adoption has created a serious governance challenge: Shadow AI. This occurs when staff use unapproved AI tools outside organisational oversight, often through personal accounts or public platforms. The intent is usually practical, not malicious, but the risk is significant: sensitive information can leave controlled environments before it is assessed, secured or audited.

Policies and awareness programs matter, but they cannot physically prevent data from being pasted into external platforms. Effective governance requires technical controls, secure alternatives and purpose-built environments that help people use AI safely.

What is Shadow AI?

Shadow AI is the use of artificial intelligence applications that have not been formally approved, secured or governed by an organisation’s IT, records, compliance or security teams. Common examples include:

  • Summarising reports or case files
  • Drafting correspondence or briefing notes
  • Creating meeting notes
  • Transcribing recordings
  • Searching or analysing sensitive information.

Shadow AI is Already Widespread

Unapproved AI use is already widespread. Research has found:

  • 44% of employees have used AI in ways that violate organisational policies (KPMG, 2025)
  • 78% report using unauthorised AI tools (WalkMe, 2025)
  • 77% of AI users paste organisational data into AI systems (The Register, 2025).

The lesson is clear: people will use AI where it helps them work faster, especially when approved tools are unavailable, hard to access or poorly aligned to operational needs.

Why Shadow AI Presents Unique Risks for Public Sector Organisations

Every organisation faces AI governance challenges, but the consequences are especially significant where sensitive public information is involved:

  • Law enforcement: unmanaged AI use can expose digital evidence, witness statements, interview recordings or intelligence material, creating privacy, classification, evidentiary and public trust risks.

  • Courts and justice agencies: transcripts, sealed proceedings, juvenile matters, victim impact statements, judicial recordings and protected witness information may be processed, retained or secured without adequate visibility.

  • Local government: development applications, citizen complaints, HR records, procurement documents and regulatory investigations can expose sensitive community or commercially sensitive information.

  • Parliamentary services: committee submissions, draft legislation, confidential briefings, policy materials and parliamentary records can introduce confidentiality, governance and information security risks before information enters the public domain.

Governance Requires More Than Policy

Many organisations respond to Shadow AI with policies that restrict public AI platforms. Policies, governance frameworks and staff education are essential, but they are only part of the solution. Policy does not create control.

If approved AI tools are unavailable or hard to use, employees may find workarounds. Effective governance must combine:

  • Clear policy and staff guidance
  • Access controls and auditability
  • Information management controls
  • Secure, approved AI platforms with relevant safeguards in place
  • User-friendly alternatives to public AI tools.

The objective should not be to prevent AI adoption. It should be to ensure AI adoption occurs within secure, governed environments that organisations can monitor and manage.

Innovation with Security

For law enforcement, justice, local government and parliamentary organisations, AI can help to:

  • Reduce administrative workloads
  • Accelerate transcription
  • Improve searchability
  • Support records management
  • Help staff access information faster.

These benefits must be matched with information security, privacy protection, auditability, records management, legislative compliance and public accountability. Successful organisations will make secure adoption easier than unsafe workarounds.

How Redfish Technologies Delivers TheRecordXchange Without Shadow AI Risks

With TheRecordXchange (TRX), Redfish Technologies helps organisations deliver AI-enabled transcription, search and records workflows within a secure, governed environment. Designed for court and public-sector record environments, TRX supports AI-assisted workflows without relying on unmanaged public AI services.

Rather than leaving staff to find their own tools, Redfish enables approved AI capability inside a controlled environment designed around security, governance and operational requirements. TRX improves transcription productivity and turnaround times while maintaining oversight and quality control.

Authorised users can securely locate, retrieve and work with critical information through browser-based access. This helps organisations:

  • Reduce reliance on unauthorised tools
  • Improve visibility over information access
  • Manage how information is processed and shared
  • Maintain stronger oversight of AI-assisted workflows.

The result is AI-powered efficiency with stronger governance, security and organisational control.

Redfish Technologies: Secure AI Adoption from Design to Delivery

Redfish Technologies works with organisations where operational continuity, information security and public trust are critical. Its approach applies high standards across:

  • Access controls
  • Results
  • User operability
  • Data security
  • System design
  • Technology selection
  • Installation
  • Configuration.

Rather than adapting consumer technologies for sensitive public-sector use, Redfish Technologies focuses on solutions that are secure by design, reliable in operation, easy to use and configured for the environments in which they operate.

That means:

  • Designing around governance from the outset
  • Selecting technologies that support secure outcomes
  • Installing systems to meet operational requirements
  • Configuring environments so authorised users can work efficiently
  • Protecting data without making systems difficult to use

The Future of AI is Governed AI

AI is already transforming public-sector operations. The question is not whether it will be used, but whether it will be used within secure, governed environments or through unmanaged Shadow AI channels.

For organisations responsible for evidence, public records, community information and legislative proceedings, uncontrolled AI use is too significant to ignore. Effective governance requires technical controls, approved environments and solutions that balance productivity, security and accountability.

Redfish Technologies helps organisations adopt AI responsibly by combining secure technology with design, implementation and configuration expertise. The outcome is a governed environment where teams can access the right information, achieve better results and protect the data entrusted to them.

To discuss how Redfish Technologies can help your organisation adopt AI securely and responsibly, contact the Redfish Technologies team today