Microsoft Copilot blocked on US Congress devices due to security risks
Employees of the US Congress have lost the ability to use Microsoft’s Copilot on their work devices, according to information published by Axios. In her official letter, Katherine Spindor, Chief of Staff of the House of Representatives, announced a ban on the use of this AI chatbot on government devices, citing the potential threat of data leakage to unauthorized cloud services.
The move follows a policy introduced almost a year ago when Congress restricted the use of the free version of ChatGPT for its employees, banning it from government computers but allowing the use of a paid version (ChatGPT Plus) with stricter privacy terms.
The White House’s recent guidance to federal agencies on the use of generative artificial intelligence aims to ensure that the tools they use do not pose a threat to the rights and safety of US citizens. In response to these concerns, Microsoft has developed a number of tools and services designed for government users, including a version of Copilot for Microsoft 365 with enhanced security standards that will be evaluated by Spindor’s office for possible use on government devices in the future.
These measures emphasize the growing attention to cybersecurity and data privacy in the use of artificial intelligence in government, and recognize the need to adapt these technologies to specific security requirements.
