Swedish government employees can no longer access browser-based versions of OpenAI’s ChatGPT or Anthropic’s Claude on work computers, as officials tighten controls over how sensitive information is handled.
Concerns Over Sensitive Data
The restriction follows a review of artificial intelligence tools used by staff at the Swedish Transport Administration earlier this year. The review identified what officials described as “problematic” uses of the platforms in government work.
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Officials were concerned that, without agreements specifying how data is protected, employees could enter sensitive information into services that might retain it or use it to train their models. The use of tools outside approved security arrangements—often referred to as shadow IT—could have “consequences for our information security,” said Mikael Wettercrantz, director of digitalisation at the Government Offices of Sweden.
Microsoft Copilot Recommended Under Security Agreement
The government is recommending Microsoft Copilot as an alternative. The service has passed a security screening process and is covered by an agreement between Microsoft and the Swedish government.
AI tools will remain available to government workers, but under tighter controls. A limited number of employees may continue using ChatGPT and Claude through a dedicated platform for AI assistants developed by Swedish authorities.
Restrictions Extend Beyond One Agency
According to Swedish public broadcaster Sveriges Radio, restrictions on ChatGPT and Claude have also been introduced at the Swedish Tax Agency and the National Board of Institutional Care. The Swedish Enforcement Authority is reviewing its approach.
Part Of A Wider Review Of AI Tools
ChatGPT and Claude join DeepSeek on the Swedish government’s list of AI tools that are not approved because of data-security concerns. The article also reports that the United States announced a ban on products and services from the Chinese AI company the previous week.
The decision highlights a central challenge for public-sector AI adoption: agencies must balance the potential efficiency gains of generative AI with clear safeguards for confidential information. For government organizations, approved tools and formal data-protection agreements are becoming essential conditions for use.







