European Commission Ethical Guidelines on AI and Data in Teaching and Learning — 2022 Edition and 2026 Generative-AI Update

The European Commission published its Ethical Guidelines on the use of AI and data in teaching and learning for educators on 25 October 2022. They were drafted by a Commission expert group of practitioners, academics, private-sector and international-organisation members under the Digital Education Action Plan 2021–2027, and are aimed at primary and secondary teachers, including those with little digital-education experience.
The guidelines set out the ethical considerations and requirements that should underpin AI use, give practical advice to educators and school leaders on integrating AI and data in school education, and address common misconceptions about AI that can cause anxiety.
A 2026 update responds to the rapid growth of generative AI since 2022. According to Cedefop's listing it is structured in three parts: core principles and legal context, guiding questions and scenarios, and background resources, with practical tools and concrete examples of AI use in education.
This is soft-law guidance. We found no published evaluation of how widely it is used or whether it changes classroom practice, and a Commission teacher survey reported that almost no teachers have a say in selecting AI and data tools, so the case is rated on governance value, not demonstrated impact.

Read the full analysis: https://education.ec.europa.eu/news/ethical-guidelines-on-the-use-of-artificial-intelligence-and-data-in-teaching-and-learning-for-educators