The European Parliament has disabled built-in artificial intelligence features on work devices used by lawmakers and their staff, following internal cybersecurity and privacy concerns.
The decision was communicated in an internal email seen by Politico, which reported the move on Monday. According to the message from the Parliament’s IT support team, the institution could not guarantee the security of data processed by some AI features.
“Some of these features use cloud services to carry out tasks that could be handled locally, sending data off the device,” the Parliament’s e-MEP tech support desk said in the email, according to Politico.
Rule applies to writing assistants, summarizers, and more
The IT team added that the scope of data being shared externally is still unclear, warning, “As these features continue to evolve and become available on more devices, the full extent of data shared with service providers is still being assessed. Until this is fully clarified, it is considered safer to keep such features disabled.”
The restrictions apply to built-in tools such as writing assistants, text and webpage summarizers, enhanced virtual assistants, and similar AI-powered features on tablets and smartphones. However, the Parliament said everyday work functions, including email, calendars, documents, and standard applications, will continue to operate normally.
Officials did not specify exactly which AI systems were turned off or what operating systems the devices use, according to Politico. Lawmakers were also urged to be cautious when using their personal phones or tablets for work-related tasks.
The internal guidance advised members to avoid exposing official emails, documents, or internal information to AI tools that scan or analyze content. It also warned users to be careful with third-party AI apps and to avoid granting them broad access to data, Politico reported.
A growing wall around Brussels
The move fits into a wider pattern of stricter digital safeguards within EU institutions. The institution previously banned TikTok on staff devices in 2023 and has recently faced pressure from some lawmakers to ditch Microsoft software in favor of European-made alternatives.
The European Union has positioned itself as a global leader in data protection and AI regulation. While the Parliament is locking down its own tech, AI adoption is growing rapidly across Europe. Data from Eurostat shows that nearly 33% of EU residents used generative AI in 2025.
By banning AI on lawmakers’ devices, the Parliament is signaling that, at the highest levels of government, convenience still takes a back seat to confidentiality.
Also read: AI regulation is colliding with platform gatekeeping as EU officials warned Meta that WhatsApp policy changes could restrict rival chatbots.