If your policy only works when no one’s looking, it doesn’t work.

AI policies aren’t shelf documents anymore. They’re operational safeguards. And if your system produces a bad outcome—real or perceived—the policy will be the first thing requested, reviewed, and judged.

Here’s what that scrutiny looks like—and how to prepare for it.

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What Legal Teams Look For

• Defined Roles and Responsibilities: Who’s responsible for oversight, suspension, auditing, and review? If your policy just says “designated personnel,” it won’t pass.
• Clear Risk Framework: Does the policy differentiate between low-risk tools and high-risk deployments? Courts expect proportional safeguards.
• Audit Logs and Retention Protocols: Can you show that the policy ensures traceability and reviewability? If not, it opens legal risk.

What the Media Looks For

• Public-Facing Summaries: Is there a plain-language version that explains what tools are in use and what guardrails are in place?
• Incident Handling: Does the policy mention how errors, complaints, or system failures are handled? If not, it’ll look like your agency wasn’t ready.
• Transparency Signals: Does your policy include community briefings, council updates, or public reports? These build trust and defend against “black box” narratives.

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