This country bans ChatGPT and Claude AI on govt computers, here is why
The Swedish government is blocking ChatGPT and Claude on staff computers starting Monday.
Government workers must now use Microsoft Copilot as their only approved AI tool.
The decision aims to protect sensitive government information from security risks.
The Swedish government is blocking ChatGPT and Claude on government staff computers starting Monday. According to Sveriges Radio, government workers must now use Microsoft Copilot as their only approved AI tool. The aim is to protect sensitive government information from security risks linked to AI services. Mikael Wettercrantz, the Government Offices' director of digitalisation, told staff about the decision through the internal network. He warned that using AI tools without proper agreements could put information at risk. The government reviewed Copilot and changed its security settings for official use.
Why Sweden is blocking ChatGPT and Claude
Wettercrantz said officials had found several cases where employees used AI services in ways that could put information at risk. According to the report, he said: “We have seen several examples of problematic use of open AI services. The examples concern both the sensitivity of the information that has been entered and how the AI-generated responses have been handled.”
AI tools made for everyday users may send their questions and other information to computer servers run by the companies that provide them. This can be a concern when government workers enter confidential details. In some situations, US law also allows authorities to demand data from companies. Formal agreements help set clear rules for how AI providers can use information entered by government staff.
The Government Offices reviewed Microsoft Copilot and improved its security settings. It did not carry out the same approval process for ChatGPT and Claude. However, some employees may still be able to access these two services through an internal AI platform developed by the Government Offices. Officials have not said how many employees can use this platform or what limits apply.
The decision also raises questions about the technology used in the approved AI tool. In early 2026, Microsoft added Anthropic's Claude models to Copilot. In the European Union, these models are turned off by default, and administrators must turn them on.
The Government Offices have not confirmed whether Claude models are enabled in their version of Copilot. This means it is still unclear how the approved AI tool differs from the services Sweden has blocked.
Sweden's Tax Agency and the National Board of Institutional Care have already introduced similar limits on AI tools made for everyday users. The Enforcement Authority is also preparing its own decision.
Separately, an internal audit at the Transport Administration found that about 10 AI services were being used widely and in ways that created risks.
In February, the European Parliament took a broader approach. It turned off AI features on all its work devices, including ChatGPT, Claude and Copilot, because it could not guarantee that the data handled by these services would be secure.
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