Sweden restricts ChatGPT and Claude access for government employees

The Swedish government has implemented a ban on accessing the web versions of ChatGPT and Claude on computers used by staff within the Government Offices, including the Prime Minister’s Office and various ministries. The decision, effective October 26, 2026, follows an internal review that identified problematic uses of AI and raised concerns regarding information security.

Authorities expressed concern that entering sensitive data into these open AI services without formal agreements could lead to the storage or use of confidential information for training future models. Mikael Wettercrantz, director of digitalization for the government services, noted that unregulated use of such platforms could compromise national information security.

As an alternative, the administration is directing employees toward Microsoft Copilot, which has undergone security evaluations and is covered by a formal data protection contract with the Swedish government. While most staff are restricted, a limited number of employees may still access ChatGPT and Claude through a specialized, internally developed AI assistant platform designed with stricter security controls.