Microsoft is giving Claude the keys to UK Copilot tenants by default

Microsoft will enable access to Anthropic's Claude models by default for UK Copilot tenants next month, giving administrators a deadline to decide whether US-based processing fits their compliance requirements.

From December 9, UK tenants whose administrators have not already chosen a setting will have Claude access enabled. Administrators can disable it, but leaving the setting untouched means opting in.

In this instance, Anthropic operates as a Microsoft subprocessor, and Claude models are already on by default for most customers in the Windows giant's commercial cloud. The exceptions, notably, include the European Union, the European Free Trade Association, and the UK.

However, UK tenants aren't in scope for Microsoft's EU Data Boundary - launched at the start of 2023 - and so Redmond is flipping the switch for the country.

Anthropic processes the relevant data in the United States, Microsoft's documentation states. Administrators therefore have until December 9 to review whether that meets their organization's data-handling requirements and set access accordingly.

Microsoft is also retiring the setting that restricts Claude access to Microsoft 365 alone.

"This affirms Microsoft's commitment to offering choice between leading AI models while maintaining enterprise-grade security and compliance," the Redmond-based biz said.

So long as you don't mind processing happening in the US. (R)