Government warns ministries against mishandling sensitive data through AI tools

The government has instructed all ministries and divisions to exercise caution in the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools in official work, warning that improper use could expose sensitive and confidential government information to unauthorized third parties.

The Cabinet Division's e-Governance-2 Wing issued a directive to all ministry secretaries on Tuesday, urging strict adherence to data security and confidentiality requirements while using AI-based applications.

In the letter, titled "Exercising Caution in the Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Tools in Government Offices," the Cabinet Division noted that the use of AI tools is increasing rapidly across government agencies for administrative and official tasks.

While acknowledging that AI can improve efficiency and productivity, the directive warned that careless use could result in confidential government information being disclosed or transferred to third-party platforms without authorization.

The government has therefore instructed officials to exercise the highest level of responsibility in protecting sensitive information and to strictly comply with existing laws, regulations, and government guidelines governing data security.

Officials said many widely used public AI platforms may store user-submitted information on company servers. In some cases, such data may also be used to improve or train AI models. As a result, uploading official documents, classified information, or personal data to such platforms could compromise confidentiality.

Meanwhile, the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Division has already drafted a national artificial intelligence policy, although it has yet to receive final approval. Once adopted, the policy is expected to establish a comprehensive framework for the safe and responsible use of AI technologies in both the public and private sectors.