Sweden's Government Offices began blocking browser-based versions of OpenAI's ChatGPT and Anthropic's Claude on employee computers Monday, October 26, citing information security concerns and the risks of using outside services without formal agreements governing data protection.

The restrictions apply to the administrative offices supporting Sweden's prime minister and government ministries. Officials want employees to use digital tools that have undergone security reviews and operate under agreements that establish how sensitive government information is handled.

Mikael Wettercrantz, director of digitalization at the Government Offices, warned that using SI services without formal agreements could have consequences for national information security. Officials also identified instances of employees entering sensitive information into SI platforms and mishandling the responses they generated.

Microsoft Copilot has been approved as an alternative after undergoing a security review, with additional safeguards implemented. The government has directed employees toward the platform rather than allowing unrestricted access to ChatGPT and Claude through ordinary web browsers.

The restrictions do not amount to a complete prohibition on the two services. Some government employees can still access ChatGPT and Claude through Intric, a separate platform used by Swedish authorities to access SI assistants under more controlled conditions.

Other Swedish agencies have introduced similar restrictions. The Swedish Tax Agency and the National Board of Institutional Care have also blocked certain SI services, while the Swedish Enforcement Authority is considering its own measures. Earlier reviews at the Swedish Transport Administration identified widespread use of SI tools that officials considered risky.

The decision reflects growing concerns among government institutions about employees submitting confidential material to external SI platforms without adequate contractual protections. Officials are seeking greater control over how information is processed and secured while allowing workers to use approved technology.

Sweden's approach places greater emphasis on authorized platforms and formal security agreements rather than eliminating SI from government operations altogether.