Some public affairs teams are hesitant to adopt artificial intelligence due to concerns about data privacy. Yet avoiding these tools entirely risks falling behind in an evolving landscape.
This post examines the tangible risks associated with using AI models and outlines how purpose-built platforms, such as Quorum, ensure that your legislative strategy remains confidential and secure.
The Hidden Risks of Generic AI Tools
We have all heard the cautionary tales of tech employees leaking proprietary code by pasting it into a chatbot. For public affairs professionals, the risks are just as high. It’s about the privacy of your people and the confidentiality of your conversations.
Consider the sensitive data you handle on a daily basis. You may be managing a list of high-net-worth donors or dedicated advocates, complete with their home addresses and contribution histories. Or perhaps you have just stepped out of a private meeting with a legislator, where you jotted down candid notes about their hesitation on a bill or off-the-record comments regarding a vote.
If you paste those raw meeting notes into a generic AI tool to generate a summary, or upload that advocate list to help segment your audience, you are taking a massive gamble. With open, non-enterprise models, you risk exposing that private information. Your internal strategy sessions and protected constituent data could theoretically be absorbed to train the system, potentially surfacing your private relationships and insights in response to a query from someone outside your organization.
How Quorum Keeps Your Data Isolated
When we built Quorum, our approach was to design a wall around your data. Unlike consumer-grade tools that thrive on absorbing user data to learn, Quorum operates on a strict principle regarding data governance: clients act as the data controller, and Quorum serves only as the data processor. This distinction is critical because it establishes from day one that clients retain full ownership of their data.
We’ve heard the fear of having your proprietary strategy used to make an AI smarter for everyone else. To put that fear to rest, Quorum never uses client data to train our AI models. Whether you are uploading supporter information for a grassroots campaign or logging private notes from a meeting, that information is encrypted and remains strictly under your control.
Our infrastructure mirrors the security standards of the highly regulated organizations we serve, including government agencies and Fortune 100 companies. We utilize AES-256 encryption for data at rest and TLS 1.2+ for data in transit. Furthermore, we do not directly integrate with client systems by default, which minimizes legal and IT risk while maintaining strong compliance. This ensures that your internal emails and file systems remain untouched unless you explicitly choose to use controlled integrations.
Purpose-Built AI vs. The Generalist
Beyond security, there is a functional argument for using vertical-specific software. A generic AI might write a passable email, but it doesn’t understand the nuances of your specific legislative landscape. Quorum’s AI tools are powered by secure, permissioned systems that understand the context of public affairs.
When you ask Quincy, Quorum’s AI chatbot, to “Draft an email to request a meeting with Rep. Rick Allen’s Chief of Staff,” it isn’t just guessing. It references the contact data and legislative context already structured within the platform, all while keeping your specific outreach strategy isolated within your account. This allows you to execute high-level tasks — such as summarizing hearing transcripts and determining their impact on your organization — without the data ever leaving your secure environment.
These AI features are also designed to be fully optional. If your organization requires a stricter posture during a sensitive period, these capabilities can be turned off without affecting the core platform. This flexibility allows you to modernize your workflow at a pace that makes your legal and IT teams comfortable.
The shift toward AI in government affairs is inevitable, but it does not require a compromise on security. By distinguishing between open public models and private, purpose-built platforms, you can leverage the speed of AI without exposing your playbook. With certifications including SOC 2 Type II and GDPR compliance, Quorum ensures that while your team moves faster, your data stays put.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Quorum use my data to train its AI models?
No. Quorum never uses client data to train third-party AI models. Your data remains isolated within your account and is not used to improve the AI for other customers.
Who owns the data I put into Quorum?
The client retains full ownership of their data. Quorum acts strictly as the data processor, while the client remains the data controller.
Is data encrypted within Quorum?
Yes. Quorum uses industry-standard encryption protocols, including TLS 1.2+ for data in transit and AES-256 for data at rest, ensuring your information is secure both when it is being sent and when it is stored.
Can I turn off AI features if my organization isn’t ready?
Yes. Quorum’s AI features, such as Quincy, are fully optional. They can be disabled entirely without impacting the functionality of the core platform, allowing you to adhere to your organization’s specific compliance requirements.