Norway bans AI tools for primary students, sparking debate on similar restrictions in Lithuania

From the start of the new school year, Norway will prohibit the use of generative artificial intelligence tools for pupils aged 6‑13. For students aged 14‑16, AI can be used only in exceptional cases under teacher supervision, while those aged 17‑19 will be encouraged to use it responsibly as part of their preparation for higher education and the labour market. The measure is part of a broader policy that also banned smartphones in schools in 2024 and proposes increased funding for textbooks and a possible ban on social‑media platforms for under‑16s.

Legal‑technology expert Mindaugas Civilka noted, “Norway is one of the first to send a clear message to the world, but concerns about AI’s impact on children’s cognitive development are being felt in many countries.” He added that China has already limited AI in kindergartens, and France and Germany are discussing similar steps. In Lithuania, AI use in schools is currently guided by advisory recommendations rather than strict rules, and officials are watching Norway’s experiment to assess whether a comparable approach might be adopted.

The EU’s AI Act, which took effect on 2 August, does not prescribe specific rules for schools, leaving the responsibility to individual member states while emphasizing the need to develop AI literacy across education systems.