Orihuela City Council has introduced strict limits on the use of artificial intelligence tools and instant messaging applications by municipal employees, including staff in dependent bodies and public companies. The mayor, Pepe Vegara, and the council secretary have issued a mandatory circular aimed at protecting personal data, safeguarding confidential information and ensuring compliance with data protection and transparency laws.

Under the new rules, AI may only be used as a support tool for tasks such as spelling and grammar checks, summarising public documents or drafting outlines. It cannot replace the responsibility of public officials in processing, reviewing, signing or validating administrative actions. Staff remain fully accountable for any content generated with authorised AI tools.

The circular bans the use of platforms such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, DeepSeek and public versions of Microsoft Copilot Chat for municipal duties. Only Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat may be accessed, and solely through a corporate account. The document warns that uploading municipal files or personal data to unauthorised platforms may breach confidentiality rules and could result in disciplinary, administrative or even criminal liability.

The use of external messaging apps including WhatsApp, Telegram and Signal is also restricted. Official communications must be carried out through the internal case management system or corporate email, particularly where personal or sensitive information is involved. The council has said compliance will be monitored through audits by its General Secretariat and Modernisation Service.