TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The government of Norway will impose a strict ban on the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) for elementary school students, starting from the upcoming academic year in late August 2026. This policy comes after the country had previously banned the use of smartphones and tablets inside classrooms.
According to a report by Engadget on June 20, 2026, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere stated that the premature use of AI has the potential to cause children to skip critical developmental stages in the learning process. He emphasized that schools should focus on teaching students how to "read, write, and do mathematics."
The ban will apply to students from the first to seventh grades, covering children aged six to 13. Meanwhile, teenagers aged 14 to 16 will still be permitted to use generative AI under the supervision of teachers. Students aged 17 and above are encouraged to utilize the technology independently and responsibly.
This policy continues Norway's efforts to roll back the use of technology in educational environments. In 2024, the government instituted a smartphone ban in schools. That policy was reported to have successfully reduced bullying, improved academic performance, and decreased visits to psychologists for mental health issues, particularly among female students.
Bracing for a Social Media Blackout
In addition to restricting the use of AI, Norway is also preparing to ban social media entirely for all children under the age of 16. The proposed legislation is scheduled to be submitted to parliament before the end of this year. This policy closely mirrors the recent legislative steps taken by Australia.
In the United States, similar restrictions on the use of AI by children are also being hotly debated. The Senate and the Parliament are currently reviewing a bill that would require AI firms to implement strict age verification and prohibit the provision of interactive chatbots to underage children.
The draft bill, known as the Guidelines for User Age-verification and Responsible Dialogue Act (GUARD Act), has successfully passed the US Senate Judiciary Committee, though it has not yet reached a floor voting stage.
Initially, the rules were intended to govern almost all AI-based chatbots. However, a recent revision has narrowed its scope exclusively to services categorized as "AI companions," potentially excluding mainstream products such as ChatGPT, Gemini, and Copilot from the regulations.
Several critics have criticized this shift, arguing that it creates loopholes for tech companies to evade regulation if the chatbot feature in their products is deemed merely an auxiliary tool. According to these critics, the line between "AI companions" and the everyday "search tools" that individuals use to interact all the time remains very thin.
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