London Summit 2026: How AI is Changing Background Checks in Europe and Africa

The 'Europe and Africa' Summit in London

According to HR Gazette: The Professional Background Screening Association (PBSA) has announced a two-day 'Europe and Africa' summit to be held in London on May 18-19, 2026. The event will take place at the Barbican Centre and will focus on the theme 'Human Connections in a Digital World – Mind the Gap.' The summit will address the impact of artificial intelligence, legislation, fraud prevention, and other key issues in background screening.

Will Hoggart, Chair of the PBSA Europe & Africa Council and Events Chair, emphasized the importance of the human aspect in technology, stating:

“We spend a lot of time talking about technology - AI gets mentioned frequently - but we want to start moving this conversation to where people still need to be part of all this. We know technology can do a lot, but especially in background screening, common sense and professional judgment still play a critical role.” - Will Hoggart

Topics of Discussion at the Summit

Topics to be discussed at the summit include:

• The growing role of AI and automation in background screening
• Legislative and regulatory updates in Europe and Africa
• Considerations regarding global partners
• Fraud prevention and identity verification
• The importance of context in OSINT and social media checks

Also planned are discussions on market trends, including consolidation and M&A activity, supporting ethics, governance, and human oversight in digital processes.

Melissa Sorenson, Executive Director of PBSA, highlighted the significance of the PBSA community:

“What makes the PBSA community so valuable is that it brings people together from across Europe, Africa, and beyond, to share insights, compare approaches, and stay ahead of the rapidly changing regulatory landscape. As our industry becomes more digital, with AI and new tools changing the way checks are delivered, we have an even greater responsibility to keep the process fair, consistent, and human. This summit is a place where practitioners can learn, ask questions, and get practical information that they can apply right away.” - Melissa Sorenson

Registration for the summit is now open, and organizers hope the event will gather professionals from various countries, as it was in previous gatherings held in Amsterdam and Paris. This summit promises to be an important platform for exchanging experiences and ideas among background screening industry professionals.

The importance of the summit lies in creating opportunities to discuss pressing issues affecting the background screening industry in the context of rapid technological development. Given the growing role of artificial intelligence and digitization, professionals will have the chance to share experiences, discuss new approaches, and adapt to changes in legislation. This will be a crucial step in supporting ethics and accountability in the field.