The European Parliament has disabled the built‑in artificial‑intelligence functions on the tablets and smartphones it provides to its 705 members. By turning off native text‑writing, summarising and virtual‑assistant tools, the institution aims to stop data from leaving its secure network. This move protects sensitive legislative drafts while forcing MEPs to rely on manual methods or approved external apps.
Which AI Features Were Disabled
All pre‑installed helpers that could automatically generate or rewrite content were switched off. The ban covers text‑writing assistants, summarisation tools, smart virtual assistants, and even web‑page summarisation features that pull the gist of a link.
Text‑writing and Summarising Assistants
These assistants could draft paragraphs or condense long articles with a single tap. Now they’re inactive, so you’ll need to type out drafts yourself or copy‑paste into a separate program.
Virtual Assistants and Web‑Page Summaries
Voice‑activated assistants that answer questions or schedule meetings no longer have access to the Parliament’s devices. The same goes for features that summarise entire web pages—those shortcuts have been removed.
Why the Parliament Acted Now
The decision stemmed from a security review that highlighted how many AI functions rely on cloud services. When a user asks a built‑in assistant to rewrite a sentence, the request is often sent to an external server, meaning sensitive data could slip out of the Parliament’s protected network. Protecting legislative confidentiality outweighed the convenience of on‑device AI.
Impact on Lawmakers’ Workflow
MEPs will have to revert to manual drafting or use third‑party apps they install themselves. Some may find the change slows productivity, but the trade‑off is clear: reduced risk of data leakage.
- Manual drafting replaces AI‑generated drafts.
- External tools must be installed individually, and you’ll need to verify their compliance.
- Potential slowdown in document preparation, especially for time‑sensitive briefs.
Implications for Tech Vendors
Suppliers that embed AI into operating systems now face pressure to offer on‑premise alternatives or guarantee that processing stays local. Vendors will likely accelerate development of “edge‑AI” solutions that keep data within the device, a trend already gaining traction in finance and defense.
Future Outlook for AI in EU Institutions
The Parliament’s move is a targeted response, not a blanket EU ban on AI. However, it sets a precedent: whenever legislative confidentiality is at stake, the default will likely be to err on the side of caution. If you work with public‑sector clients, you’ll want to anticipate stricter controls and plan for secure, local‑processing AI options.
