ChatGPT and Claude blocked by Swedish government over "problematic" security concerns

The Swedish government has banned its employees from using AI platforms ChatGPT and Claude for official work due to security concerns. This ban joins a list of non-approved AI tools that includes DeepSeek, which was previously restricted due to privacy violation concerns related to GDPR. Microsoft CoPilot remains approved for official use, but with stricter security controls.

The government aims to prevent sensitive information from being fed into unregulated platforms, as this could pose a threat to Sweden's information security. An internal review of AI tools used by the Swedish Transport Administration revealed problematic uses of AI platforms for government purposes. This ban highlights the importance of using approved AI platforms for official work and the potential consequences of using unregulated platforms, also known as Shadow IT.

While some employees may continue to access ChatGPT and Claude through a special platform, the government emphasizes the need for tighter security measures. This decision is not unique to Sweden, as other countries, such as the United States, have also restricted DeepSeek due to concerns over data security and compliance with data protection regulations.