Tribunal: UK firm fairly rejected Chinese applicant for security

A UK employment tribunal has ruled that a British AI company did not discriminate against a Chinese applicant by rejecting her due to security concerns. The decision clarifies that the rejection was based on security clearance requirements, not nationality. The tribunal heard that the company, Binary AI Ltd, works with Western governments on sensitive projects. The founder cited the inability to ensure necessary security protocols for a Chinese national as the reason for the rejection, following advice from defense officials. The judge acknowledged the email's wording appeared discriminatory but clarified the decision was based on security clearance limitations applicable to various nationalities, including Chinese, Russian, and Iranian, due to the nature of the work.