Worker Fired for Using AI: Legal Implications and Employer Protections

A woman in Moscow was fired for using a neural network, raising questions about AI use in the workplace. Labor lawyer Valentina Yakoveva explained that dismissal can occur if confidential data is processed or if there's repeated violation of a direct ban on AI use. A high-profile case involved a sales director who transferred commercial data to her personal email, loaded reports into a neural network, and disclosed company plans, leading to a lawful dismissal. The use of AI itself is not a labor infraction, but it can be part of a sanctionable behavior if it involves leaking confidential information, presenting AI-generated work as one's own, violating third-party rights, or disobeying management instructions on AI use. Employers should implement AI use policies, train staff, ensure transparency in AI-driven employment decisions, and maintain proportional disciplinary measures.