- Who runs it
- DSIT
- Can it affect people?
- Possibly. It may shape what people see, are recommended, flagged, or prioritised for.
- Possible rights impact: Indirect public effect
How much do we know?
A source is a published page or document behind a claim. The label measures what is documented, not whether a system is good or safe. Missing information does not prove that a safeguard is missing.
Sources and further reading
- DSIT: GOV.UK site search / GOV.UK Algorithmic Transparency Records / 2025-02-10
- GOV.UK Algorithmic Transparency Records - official inventory / GOV.UK Algorithmic Transparency Records
optional detailFull record and details
The interface and explanatory guides are translated. Record names, record descriptions, quotations, detailed editorial notes, and linked public documents stay in their published language so evidence is not silently changed.
What it does
GOV.UK site search is the search engine for GOV.UK. It enables users to search for information and services on GOV.UK by entering a search query to view results that are relevant to their query.
If this affects someone
GOV.UK site search is a search engine product on GOV.UK. It exists to make it easy for users to find information, pages and services on GOV.UK. It is a public facing product that enables users of GOV.UK to search the content of the GOV.UK website to find pages that are relevant to their GOV.UK visit. It is only designed to support users to search for content on GOV.UK. It does not enable users to search through content on other websites e.g. local government websites or devolved administration websites, although...
At the bottom of the site search page - as is the case with all pages on GOV.UK - there is a user feedback form so users can share feedback on the site search page. The GOV.UK have regular interactions with Google to provide them feedback on the Google Vertex AI Search product.
GOV.UK content data is the data of the text of the documents published on GOV.UK. Events data is data about how users (that have consented to analytics tracking) interact with GOV.UK site search.
Sources and further reading
First indexed from GOV.UK Algorithmic Transparency Records on 2026-09-01. Only usable fields from the public record are shown; missing answers remain blank.
Fields were mapped from the linked public record by deterministic code. No generative model wrote this text.
Facts to check
- Who runs it
- DSIT
- Life area
- Public sector
- Proof level
- Source-backed
- Footnotes
- 2
- updated
- 19 months ago
The score orders work, not people.
Review priority rises for rights-sensitive uses, missing sources, unanswered accountability fields, and old evidence. Strong official documentation lowers it. The score is not a verdict on safety, fairness, or legality.
A missing field means the attached public sources did not answer it. Coverage is uneven, publication does not prove performance, and a certificate has a defined boundary.
Previous versions
- Imported15 days agoSubstantialImported from GOV.UK Algorithmic Transparency Records.
Help check this record.
Add a public source, challenge a claim, or point out a missing way to reach a person.
A submitted name, email, description, source, or correction is used only to verify the record and prevent abuse. It is not published automatically.