Microsoft Edge now lets admins control which sites Copilot AI can browse

Microsoft has introduced a new feature in Edge for Business that lets IT administrators decide exactly which websites Microsoft’s Copilot AI can browse on behalf of employees.

This was announced via the official @MSEdgeDev account on X, and the update brings more nuanced management to AI usage in the workplace. The attached post also includes a demo of the feature in action.

There were concerns around AI tools accessing sensitive/inappropriate content online, which this update addresses. Previously, Copilot could search websites with more freedom while assisting the user with tasks, though some standard restrictions were in place. Now, companies can configure more specific restrictions directly in the Microsoft 365 Admin Center. This change ensures that the AI only visits approved sites.

As mentioned in the official Microsoft documentation, the update allows organizations (education/small- to medium-scale businesses) to block specific categories of websites.

Admins can set these rules through configuration policies in the Edge management service. The system supports “Allow” and “Block” lists for exceptions, and you can also import bulk URLs via CSV or JSON files.

It works alongside other Edge security features, and can also limit access on other browsers if you want it to. You can find further information, prerequisites for the feature, and the elaborated steps here.

Meanwhile, Microsoft Defender for Endpoint’s web content filters offer broader device-level controls. You can categorize sites into specific areas. For example, you can categorize them as “Adult content,” “High bandwidth media, “Legal,” and more. This helps with content filtering, reduces bandwidth usage, and these restrictions also apply whether users are in the office or working remotely at work and at home. More on that here.

Do you use Microsoft Edge as your main browser? The latest stable version includes a long list of security fixes, and we recommend applying them immediately. We covered that here.

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