A call this morning for a watchdog to regulate how government-run artificial intelligence is sifting through our personal data.

It's in response to increasing use of sophisticated new data tools and predictive analytics by government agencies like ACC and Immigration NZ.

Otago University philosopher James Maclaurin told Mike Hosking the UK is proposing an independent body in government.

"It looks across government, it can give government departments good advice about how to buy these tools or how to make them if you develop them yourself, how to ensure they are accurate and fair and transparent."

Maclaurin says until experts look at the tools you don't know it they are accurate or not.

LISTEN ABOVE AS JAMES MACLAURIN SPEAKS WITH MIKE HOSKING