The European Parliament has taken a cautious stance on artificial intelligence within its own work environment by disabling built-in AI features on work devices used by lawmakers and staff. An internal email from the Parliament’s technology support desk said this step followed a security review that highlighted potential data protection and cybersecurity risks linked to some AI tools.
The decision affects features such as AI writing assistants, summarisation tools and enhanced virtual assistants that are pre-installed on tablets and other work devices. The email explained that some of these tools use cloud services to process information that could be handled locally. Lawmakers were advised to disable similar features on their personal phones or tablets if such tools have access to work emails or internal documents.
The move by the European Parliament underscores a broader tension facing legislative bodies around the world. Governments and parliaments are eager to harness artificial intelligence for efficiency and insight, but they are also wary of risks to privacy, data security and legislative integrity. In this case, the Parliament’s decision does not amount to a ban on all AI, but it does signal caution about how and where advanced AI systems are deployed within official environments.
Across Europe, legislators have been debating comprehensive AI rules for years. In March 2024, the European Union adopted the Artificial Intelligence Act, a regulatory framework designed to manage risks associated with AI systems across many sectors, from consumer services to high-risk applications. The regulation requires compliance with evolving standards over the coming years and aims to balance innovation with safety, transparency and human rights.
The Parliament’s internal actions reflect a broader global conversation on AI and legislative governance. Many national parliaments, including in North America and Asia, have introduced or are considering guidelines on how legislators should use AI tools. Some have raised questions about how automated analysis can affect policy research, legal drafting and constituent services. Others are exploring rules to ensure AI is used ethically in public lawmaking processes without compromising personal data or democratic norms.
The caution in Brussels also highlights concerns about reliance on foreign-based cloud services and AI platforms. Data sovereignty is an ongoing issue in the EU, and lawmakers have increasingly sought to ensure that sensitive legislative information is not inadvertently transmitted to external servers without robust protections.
Internationally, the trend is not uniform. Some legislatures are more open to experimenting with AI for routine administrative tasks. Others prioritise strict guidelines to minimise exposure to unvetted third-party systems. This divergence stems from differences in legal traditions, data protection laws and trust in digital infrastructure.
In addition to internal measures on use of AI, European lawmakers have taken broader steps on AI governance. Committees have called for transparency and fair compensation when AI systems use copyrighted content. They are also debating rules to ensure AI is fair, transparent and accountable in workplaces and other environments. The European Parliament’s decision to disable built-in AI features for now is a reminder of the complexities that arise when a powerful technology intersects with governance. Legislators must balance opportunities for efficiency with obligations to protect citizens’ rights and institutional integrity. What happens within legislative halls may well shape broader public policy on AI for years to come.
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