US Congress bans staff from using Microsoft Copilot
Copilot usage to be banned on government devices
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The US House of Representatives has reportedly prohibited congressional staffers from usingMicrosoftCopilot as part of a security push.
A report fromAxiossays the House’s Chief Administrative Officer, Catherine Szpindor, claimed that theAI toolposes a risk due to the potential leakage of data to non-approved cloud services.
As a result, Copilot, an optional generative AI add-on available across the Microsoft productivity suite, is set to be removed from and blocked on all Windows devices controlled by the House.
Microsoft Copilot ban
Microsoft has already revealed more government-oriented tools, including AzureOpenAIService in Azure Government, which is designed to address some of the security and privacy concerns.
A Microsoft spokesperson added: “We recognize that government users have higher security requirements for data. That’s why we announced a roadmap of Microsoft AI tools, like Copilot, that meet federal government security and compliance requirements that we intend to deliver later this year.”
Szpindor’s office toldAxiosthat the ban applies to commercially available Copilot products but that it would be “evaluating the government version when it becomes available and making a determination at that time.”
The House of Representatives isn’t the only body banning the tech, with other governments and enterprises issuing similar bans on generative AI tools over concerns that they could compromise sensitive data.
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Guidancefor Copilot Studio, a tool for building custom AI copilots, updated on 26 March specifically for government customers, confirms that content is physically separated from non-government customer content, that it’s stored within the US, that it’s only accessible by certain screened Microsoft workers, and that it complies with other safeguards.
As the world continues to navigate emerging AI trends, it’s clear that caution continues to be exercised - recently the White Houserevealedthat all federal agencies must appoint a Chief AI Officer tasked with overseeing the implementation of AI initiatives.
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With several years’ experience freelancing in tech and automotive circles, Craig’s specific interests lie in technology that is designed to better our lives, including AI and ML, productivity aids, and smart fitness. He is also passionate about cars and the decarbonisation of personal transportation. As an avid bargain-hunter, you can be sure that any deal Craig finds is top value!
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