The European Parliament has instructed staff to disable a range of built‑in artificial intelligence features on work devices amid intensified cyber and privacy concerns, according to POLITICO. The guidance, circulated to lawmakers by email and seen by POLITICO, targets tools that automatically draft or condense text, bolster virtual assistants and create webpage summaries on tablets and phones. [2],[6]

The restrictions stop short of removing basic productivity applications: the email made clear that apps for email, calendar and documents remain untouched. The measure reflects a precautionary approach to reduce the risk of exposing sensitive parliamentary material to services that scan or analyse content. [2],[6]

In a written statement cited by POLITICO, the European Parliament press service said it "constantly monitor[s] cybersecurity threats and quickly deploys the necessary measures to prevent them," while declining to discuss operational technical details for security reasons. The statement declined to say which device platforms or specific factory‑installed AI functions had been deactivated. [2],[6]

The step follows a pattern of tighter digital hygiene inside EU institutions. Lawmakers urged a switch away from internal use of Microsoft software in November, and in 2023 the Parliament barred the social app TikTok from staff devices while advising members to remove it from personal phones. The recent email also urged MEPs to "consider applying similar precautions" on private devices used for official business. [2],[6]

The move sits alongside other EU concerns about foreign technology and data flows. The Parliament has recommended secure messaging such as Signal for sensitive exchanges, echoing earlier Commission advice, while national regulators have taken action against AI vendors on privacy grounds , Italy recently blocked the Chinese firm DeepSeek pending an investigation. At the same time, debates continue over the EU’s AI Act after late amendments tightened law enforcement access to biometric tools, prompting warnings from rights advocates. [3],[4],[5]

Lawmakers were explicitly advised to avoid exposing work emails, documents or internal information "to AI features that scan or analyze content," to be "cautious" with third‑party AI apps and to "avoid granting broad access to data," the email said. The Parliament framed the restrictions as targeted, short‑term risk‑mitigation while cybersecurity assessments continue. [2],[3]

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Source: Noah Wire Services