French Court Suspends ChatGPT in a Company: A Strong Signal for All AI Projects

On May 21, 2026, the Paris Court of Appeal issued two rulings confirming the suspension of AI tools, including ChatGPT and an internal editorial assistant called DIGI, deployed by several press companies without prior consultation of the CSE (comité social et économique). The court found these tools to be 'new technology' under the Labor Code, potentially affecting working conditions, task organization, and employee activity. Consequently, their use was suspended until the consultation procedure was completed. The ruling does not ban ChatGPT or generative AI but emphasizes that its introduction, which can significantly alter work, requires employee representative involvement when legal conditions are met. This decision extends beyond the press sector, potentially affecting any company deploying AI assistants like Microsoft Copilot, Gemini, or internal agents. The court also awarded provisional damages to employee representatives. This aligns with the EU AI Act's requirements for AI literacy and marks a shift toward governance and social dialogue in AI deployment.