Swedish government offices block ChatGPT and Claude: what the ban covers and why

Sweden bans ChatGPT and Claude inside its central government offices: from Monday, October 26, 2026, staff at Regeringskansliet, the Government Offices that serve the Swedish government and its ministries, won't be able to reach OpenAI's ChatGPT or Anthropic's Claude in a browser on their work computers. Sveriges Radio's news program Ekot reported the change on Friday, October 23, and Regeringskansliet confirmed it in an email to SVT. Staff are being pointed to Microsoft's Copilot instead, and the stated concern is information security.

This story is based on Regeringskansliet's email to SVT, as quoted in SVT's report of October 23 (updated October 24), and on Ekot's report as relayed by Computer Sweden, Bulletin, Börsvärlden (Finwire), Breakit and Sejfer, checked October 25, 2026. Sveriges Radio's own page couldn't be opened, and Regeringskansliet hasn't published a statement on its website. Swedish quotes are 9to5AI's translations.

The short version

• What's blocked: the browser interface of ChatGPT and Claude on Regeringskansliet staff work computers ("tjänstedatorer"), in Regeringskansliet's own words to SVT.
• When: from October 26, 2026, the date Regeringskansliet gave SVT.
• Why: AI services used "without an agreement" can affect information security, according to digitalization director Mikael Wettercrantz's intranet note, as reported by Ekot.
• What staff use instead: Microsoft Copilot, which Regeringskansliet says all staff can use; Ekot reported it was approved after a review, with tightened security.
• Exceptions: staff still have access to the ChatGPT and Claude models through Intric, Regeringskansliet's AI-assistant platform.

What does the ban cover?

The block applies to Regeringskansliet staff computers, and it isn't a ban on AI. In its email to SVT, Regeringskansliet wrote that "the browser interface for the AI services ChatGPT and Claude will no longer be reachable from Regeringskansliet's work computers from October 26" ("Webbläsargränssnittet för AI-tjänsterna ChatGPT och Claude kommer inte längre att nås från Regeringskansliets tjänstedatorer från och med den 26 oktober"). Sejfer, citing Ekot, described the same thing as a block on "direct access from the service computers" ("den direkta åtkomsten från tjänstedatorerna").

Employees keep access to the same models by another route. "Within Intric, staff still have access to the language models ChatGPT and Claude," Regeringskansliet told SVT ("Inom ramen för Intric har medarbetare fortfarande tillgång till språkmodellerna ChatGPT och Claude"). Ekot's version, as relayed by Börsvärlden, was narrower: "some staff will continue to be able to use ChatGPT and Claude through an in-house platform for AI assistants" ("Viss personal kommer fortsatt kunna använda ChatGPT och Claude genom en egenutvecklad plattform för AI-assistenter"). Neither says how many people work on the affected computers.

Regeringskansliet's wording covers the two services' browser interface on staff work computers. It doesn't mention phones, personal devices or the companies' APIs.

Why did Regeringskansliet block ChatGPT and Claude?

The reports give one reason: control over where government information goes. Wettercrantz declined an interview with Ekot, but in a comment on the internal intranet he warned that "AI services used without an agreement can affect information security," Bulletin reported ("AI-tjänster som används utan avtal kan påverka informationssäkerheten"). Computer Sweden quoted his phrase as "consequences for our information security" ("konsekvenser för vår informationssäkerhet").

The press office "does not want to go into details because it concerns security matters," according to Bulletin ("presstjänsten vill inte gå in på detaljer eftersom det rör säkerhetsfrågor").

The reports don't say whether the decision followed a specific incident, and they don't suggest one did.

What can staff use instead?

Microsoft Copilot. Regeringskansliet told SVT that all staff have access to Microsoft's AI tool. "Instead, staff are referred to Microsoft's AI tool Copilot, which has been approved after a review," Sejfer wrote ("Personalen hänvisas i stället till Microsofts AI-verktyg Copilot, som har godkänts efter en översyn"). According to Bulletin, the security around Copilot was also tightened after the review. Regeringskansliet hasn't said what changed.

The dividing line is whether a service is approved and covered by an agreement, not which model it runs: the two companies' models remain available, but only through Intric. For how Copilot's business plans handle data compared with ChatGPT's, see our ChatGPT vs Microsoft Copilot comparison.

Have other Swedish agencies done the same?

Yes, according to Ekot. Its survey found similar blocks at Skatteverket, the Swedish Tax Agency, and at Statens institutionsstyrelse (SiS), the National Board of Institutional Care. Kronofogden, the Swedish Enforcement Authority, was reportedly considering one, though Sejfer said its material didn't confirm a decision. Regeringskansliet had already restricted DeepSeek before this change.

How does this compare with other governments' AI restrictions?

Many government AI restrictions have targeted DeepSeek over its Chinese ownership; our DeepSeek ban explainer lists them. Sweden's move is different because it covers two US services while allowing a third. A comparable case is the US House of Representatives:

Last verified: October 25, 2026

For a sense of how ChatGPT and Claude differ as products, see our Claude vs ChatGPT vs Gemini guide.

What's confirmed, reported and uncertain

• Confirmed (Regeringskansliet, in an email quoted by SVT): the browser interface of ChatGPT and Claude can't be reached from staff work computers from October 26, 2026; all staff have access to Microsoft's AI tool; staff still have access to the ChatGPT and Claude models through Intric.
• Reported (Ekot, via five Swedish outlets that agree on the details): Wettercrantz's intranet warning, Copilot's approval after a review and its tightened security, the press office declining to give details, the earlier DeepSeek restriction and the blocks at Skatteverket and SiS.
• Not available: a statement on Regeringskansliet's website, and Sveriges Radio's original article, which 9to5AI couldn't open.
• Uncertain: how many staff are affected, whether every employee or only some can use the models through Intric (Regeringskansliet's and Ekot's wording differ), whether phones or APIs are covered, and what changed in Copilot's security.