# Paste it into ChatGPT, and it's public

A UK tribunal ruled that uploading client documents to ChatGPT breaches confidentiality and waives privilege. Here's how to get the same help safely.

By Garden Desk team

A UK tribunal said it plainly. Uploading client documents to ChatGPT is "to place this information on the internet in the public domain."

## What happened

An immigration adviser used ChatGPT to summarise Home Office letters and polish client emails. Ordinary work. It saved maybe an hour.

What it cost:

- **Confidentiality:** breached.
- **Legal privilege:** waived. You can't get it back.
- **Regulators:** he reported himself to the SRA and the Immigration Advice Authority.
- **Clients:** he had to tell every one.

The case: [*UK and Munir v SSHD* [2026] UKUT 81 (IAC)](https://tribunalsdecisions.service.gov.uk/utiac/2026-ukut-00081).

## A bad trade

An hour saved. A client's privilege lost. Nobody should have to make that trade.

## Same work. Nothing leaves.

Garden Desk gives you the same help on your own computer.

1. **Open it.** No account, no setup.
2. **Point it at the folder.**
3. **Ask:** "Summarise this decision letter and draft a reply to the client."

You get the same result. Nothing leaves your computer, so there's nothing to report.

## Why it's safe

- **Local.** It runs on your computer. No cloud, no tracking.
- **No way online.** The assistant works in a sealed space with no internet connection.
- **Read-only.** It can read your files but can't change your originals.
- **Open source.** Anyone can [check the code](https://github.com/Private-Garden-Labs/garden-desk).

The tribunal drew a line between tools that put your data out in the world and tools that keep it private. Garden Desk keeps everything on your computer.

## One honest warning

The tribunal also said free AI tools "are not capable of conducting reliable legal research." No AI is a law library, and that includes Garden Desk. Check every citation yourself.

## The cost

Free. Open source. One download.

[Download Garden Desk free](https://gardendesk.ai/releases/)

*This post is general information, not legal advice.*