India Considers Ban on DeepSeek AI Amid Global Privacy and Security Concerns

India Likely to Ban DeepSeek AI Over Data Privacy and Cybersecurity Risks

India is considering a ban on DeepSeek, a Chinese AI chatbot, over concerns related to data privacy and cybersecurity. The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) has launched an investigation into the chatbot's data collection practices, including tracking user behavior across applications. Countries like the US, Italy, and Australia have already its use, raising alarms over potential misuse and national security threats. The investigation regarding potential harm of DeepSeek operates under the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) which functions within the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. The requested investigation examines the ways in which the chatbot gathers user information that spans from device monitoring to application usage and recorded keystrokes. A senior official from the government emphasized that DeepSeek poses compared to ChatGPT because of its privacy vulnerabilities. User-sensitive information might potentially be accessed without proper legal oversight. Officials state that India refuses to permit Chinese interference with Indian user information because the storage and utilization of sensitive data remain uncertain.

India's advisory on DeepSeek: Handle with care

India is likely to issue an advisory regarding data privacy concerns with the Chinese AI tool DeepSeek, following a CERT-In inquiry. Privacy issues include tracking user behavior and device data. The finance ministry has advised officials to avoid using such AI models, echoing bans from other countries.The Centre is likely to issue an "advisory" cautioning users about data privacy and cyber spying concerns surrounding Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) tool DeepSeek, top officials told ET. CERT-In, the country's nodal agency for cybersecurity, has undertaken a thorough inquiry into potential harm to Indian citizens using the genAI application on their devices, they said. This includes tracking user behaviour from prompts given to the chatbot, device data such as battery usage, other app interactions and even finger keystrokes, they added. "There are concerns over usage of DeepSeek. We can't use it like we use ChatGPT. We have to be careful," said a senior government official, adding that a common advisory against its use is likely to be issued soon. ChatGPT is a rival application from US-based OpenAI. Last week, the finance ministry asked its officers to stop using AI models like ChatGPT and DeepSeek. "India, as a nation, is not comfortable with allowing China access to Indians' data because there is no accountability to how and where they store sensitive data," said one official aware of the government's thinking. Worldwide, several governments including those of Italy and Australia, along with US federal agencies, have banned the use of DeepSeek on official devices. The Chinese application was released to global acclaim in January -- an open-source model built at significantly lower cost than rivals. "The app collects data in three forms -- 'user prompts' (including images, documents, chat history), 'automatically collected information' (device data, metadata of other applications, cookie tracking) and information from 'other sources' (crowdsourced or publicly available data)," said an official in knowledge of the investigation by CERT-In. It can even track how many users uninstalled ChatGPT, or whether they have reduced time spent on Google Gemini app. "A more alarming issue here is that the AI conversational bot can spread misinformation to manipulate political discourse," the official said. Cybersecurity experts are of the view that users must understand "that when you are getting something for free, you are the product." "While one may argue that the whole tech ecosystem functions like DeepSeek, the matter is different. The biggest concern here is that there is no accountability. They do not obey global laws and have no accountability to the rest of the world," said Prashant Mali, a cybersecurity expert and advisor to the government. "Data can be shared among corporate groups. Chinese law enforcement (agencies) can access it. Can it be further used to create bias, spread misinformation? Nobody knows," he said. Australia has cited privacy and malware risks while banning use of DeepSeek on official devices. Taiwan called it a "security risk". South Korean ministries and police termed it a "national security" issue after the Chinese AI startup did not respond to a data watchdog's request for details of how it manages user information. Italy also launched an investigation into DeepSeek's R1 model and blocked it from processing Italian users' data. The ministry of electronics and information technology recently told reporters that the government has narrowed down on all hardware and operational requirements for hosting DeepSeek in India. It is not clear if that plan will be revisited.

Government may warn against DeepSeek over China's data tracking risks

Worldwide, several governments including Italy and Australia along with US federal agencies have already banned the use of DeepSeek on official devices. The Chinese application was released to global acclaim in January, for its open-source model built at significantly lower cost compared to rivals.The central government is likely to issue an "advisory" cautioning users about data privacy and cyber spying concerns surrounding the Chinese artificial intelligence tool, DeepSeek, top officials told ET. CERT-In, the country's nodal agency for cybersecurity has undertaken a thorough enquiry of potential harm to Indian citizens using the genAI application on their devices, the sources said. This includes tracking user behaviour from prompts given to the chatbot, device data such as battery usage, other app interactions and even keystrokes of fingers, they added. "There are concerns over the usage of DeepSeek, we can't use it like we use ChatGPT (a rival genAI application from US-based OpenAI). We have to be careful," said a senior government official, adding that the common advisory against its use is likely to be issued soon. The IT ministry's move comes on the back of a directive from the Ministry of Finance last week asking its officers to stop the use of AI models like ChatGPT and DeepSeek. Also Read: ETtech Explainer: What is DeepSeek, China's competitor to OpenAI? "India as a nation is not comfortable with allowing China access to Indians' data because there is no accountability to how and where they store sensitive data," said one official aware of the government's thinking. Worldwide, several governments including Italy and Australia along with US federal agencies have already banned the use of DeepSeek on official devices. The Chinese application was released to global acclaim in January, for its open-source model built at significantly lower cost compared to rivals. "The app collects data in three forms- 'user prompts' (including images, documents, chat history), 'automatically collected information' (device data, metadata of other applications, cookie tracking) and information from 'other sources' (crowdsourced or publicly available data)," said an official in knowledge of the investigation by CERT-In. It can even track how many users uninstalled ChatGPT, or whether they have reduced time spent on Google Gemini app. "A more alarming issue here is that the AI conversational bot can spread misinformation to manipulate political discourse," the person noted. Cybersecurity experts are of the view that users must understand "that when you are getting something for free, you are the product." "While one may argue that the whole tech ecosystem functions like that, in the case of an AI app like DeepSeek, the matter is different. The biggest concern here is that there is no accountability. They do not obey global laws and have no accountability to the rest of the world," said Prashant Mali, a cybersecurity expert and advisor to the government. "Data can be shared among corporate groups. The Chinese law enforcement can access it. Can it be further used to create bias, spread misinformation? Nobody knows," he said. Global concerns Australia has cited privacy and malware risks while banning use of DeepSeek on official devices. Taiwan called it a "security risk". South Korean ministries and police called it "national security" issue after the Chinese AI startup did not respond to a data watchdog request about how it manages user information. Italy also launched an investigation into DeepSeek's R1 model and blocked it from processing Italian users' data. The IT ministry had recently told reporters that the government has narrowed down on all hardware and operational requirements for hosting DeepSeek in India. It is not clear if that plan will be revisited now.

Centre Planning An Advisory Soon Against DeepSeek: Report

This comes days after the finance ministry issued a directive prohibiting its officers from using AI tools like ChatGPT and DeepSeek The government is reportedly planning to soon issue an advisory, warning users on potential data privacy and cyber espionage risks pertaining to the use of Chinese AI tool DeepSeek. The Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) is enquiring about the implications of using the GenAI tool on Indian devices, ET reported, citing sources close to the matter. The authority is keeping a tab on user's behaviour based on the interaction with chatbot, data like battery usage and other app interactions. This comes days after the finance ministry issued a directive prohibiting its officers from using AI tools like ChatGPT and DeepSeek for official reasons to maintain data privacy and security. Last month, Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that India will soon host DeepSeek on local servers to address the privacy concerns regarding the cross-border data transfer. Founded in 2023, DeepSeek AI is a Chinese company which has taken the world by storm with its cost-effective AI models. Last month, DeepSeek launched its free AI assistant DeepSeek-V3, claiming that it uses less data and costs only a fraction of services offered by incumbents. A few days back, it also launched its AI model called Janus-Pro-7B for AI-led image generation, which, it claims, outperforms OpenAI's DALL-E 3 and Stability AI's Stable Diffusion. DeepSeek has also attained the position of the most downloaded mobile app across 140 markets, with India accounting for more than 15% of the downloads. Along with India, countries like Australia and Italy have also put restrictions on the usage of DeepSeek due to privacy and security vulnerabilities. Additionally, Taiwan has also prohibited government agencies from using DeepSeek's AI model, flagging national information security risks.

Use Deepseek with caution: What has triggered global concerns about the Chinese tech rival to ChatGPT?

DeepSeek, a Chinese AI chatbot developed by Liang Feng, has quickly gained attention due to its low-cost development and rapid popularity. However, various governments have raised concerns about data privacy and security, leading to bans in countries like the US, South Korea, and Australia.In the ever-expanding world of artificial intelligence (AI), the release of DeepSeek, a Chinese-developed AI chatbot, has disrupted the industry. Launched in January, DeepSeek, designed by Hangzhou-based entrepreneur Liang Feng, quickly made waves over established AI systems like OpenAI's ChatGPT. Unlike its competitors, which have spent billions of dollars developing AI models, DeepSeek claims to have built its latest program, DeepSeek R1, with a fraction of the cost -- reportedly under $6 million, a sum much lower than the multi-million dollar budgets of US tech giants. This cost-effectiveness caught the attention of tech enthusiasts and investors worldwide. The app quickly soared to the top of the Apple App Store in just a week, setting off a ripple effect in the tech sector. Its success also contributed to a major drop in Nvidia's stock, highlighting the potential of DeepSeek to disrupt the status quo. However, this rapid rise has not been without controversy. Governments around the world are beginning to voice serious concerns about the software, especially regarding security and data privacy. In India, government officials have raised alarms over DeepSeek's potential to compromise citizens' privacy and security. According to senior officials, the Centre is expected to issue an advisory soon, warning users about the app's potential risks. Centre is particularly concerned about DeepSeek's ability to track a wide range of user data, including behavioral patterns, device information, and even keystrokes. "We can't use it like we use ChatGPT. We have to be careful," a senior government official told ET. The country's cybersecurity agency, CERT-In, has been conducting a detailed inquiry into the risks posed by DeepSeek. Government officials have raised concerns about the lack of accountability and transparency in how China manages user data, especially considering there is no clear regulatory framework for how personal data is stored and used. "India, as a nation, is not comfortable with allowing China access to Indians' data," said one official familiar with the government's stance. Last week, the finance ministry had asked its officers to cease using AI tools like ChatGPT and DeepSeek. The United States was one of the first to take action. According to reports from The Wall Street Journal, lawmakers are preparing a government bill to ban DeepSeek on government-owned devices, amidst mounting security concerns. NASA, in particular blocked DeepSeek from its systems and employee devices on January 31. A few days earlier, the US Navy had warned its personnel against using the app, citing potential risks related to security and the ethical implications of its origin. Similarly, other US institutions are considering similar measures to limit access to DeepSeek, as concerns about the app's safety grow. In South Korea, the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy announced a temporary ban on DeepSeek for government employees on January 31, following concerns about how user data would be managed. Additionally, the country's Personal Information Protection Commission sent a formal request to DeepSeek, seeking clarity on how the platform handles personal information. Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, a government-run utility, also restricted access to the AI service, reinforcing the growing skepticism in the country. Meanwhile, the Australian government took a decisive step, with the Department of Home Affairs issuing a statement on February 6 mandating a complete block on DeepSeek across all government devices. The government explained that the decision was made to protect Australia's national security interests. "We are acting in the best interest of our national security," said Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke. In Italy, the Data Protection Authority (Garante) swiftly acted on January 30, issuing an order to restrict the processing of Italian users' data by DeepSeek. The move followed questions about the platform's transparency regarding its data collection practices. Two days prior, the Garante had sent an inquiry to the company seeking answers about how it stored and utilized personal data, underlining the importance of data protection in the digital age. On the same day, Taiwan's government blocked the use of DeepSeek for public sector departments. The government cited security risks associated with the app as the primary reason for this decision. Taiwan's move aligns with broader global concerns over the potential misuse of user data by Chinese tech firms, particularly those without clear regulations on data security. The primary concern driving these global bans is the fear of data misuse and the lack of clarity about how DeepSeek handles sensitive user information. According to DeepSeek's privacy policy, the app collects a range of data, including personal information such as email addresses and phone numbers, as well as chat history and technical details about the user's device. This data can be shared with third-party service providers and advertising partners, raising further concerns about its potential misuse. Cybersecurity experts have raised alarms about the app's code, with some suggesting that it might be capable of transmitting user data directly to the Chinese government. Ivan Tsarynny, CEO of Feroot Security, told ABC news that DeepSeek could potentially send user data to China Mobile, a telecommunications company owned by the Chinese government. While this claim has not been independently verified, it adds fuel to the growing suspicion that the app could be a tool for surveillance. (With inputs from agencies)

Finance Ministry Asks Employees To Not Use ChatGPT, DeepSeek: Report

The finance ministry has issued a directive prohibiting its officers from using AI tools like ChatGPT and DeepSeek for official reasons, citing concerns over data privacy and security. "It has been determined that AI tools and AI apps (such as ChatGPT, DeepSeek etc) in the office computers and devices pose risks for confidentiality of Govt, data and documents," Reuters reported, citing the internal advisory. The move aligns India with countries like Australia and Italy, which have imposed similar restrictions on DeepSeek, citing privacy and security vulnerabilities. Besides, Taiwan has also prohibited government agencies from using DeepSeek's AI model, flagging national information security risks. Chinese artificial intelligence chatbot DeepSeek has become the most downloaded mobile app across 140 markets, with India contributing the largest pie of new users. According to data from Appfigures, as cited by Bloomberg, India accounted for 15.6% of all downloads across platforms since the app's launch in January and became the number one android app on the Google Play Store in the US this week. Within 18 days of launch, DeepSeek garnered 16 Mn downloads, nearly doubling the initial adoption rate of OpenAI's ChatGPT, which saw 9 Mn downloads in the same period.

Centre bans use of AI tools like ChatGPT and DeepSeek for official use amid data privacy concerns

The timing of the advisory is interesting as it came just ahead of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman's scheduled visit to India. The finance ministry has issued an internal advisory that restricts the government employees to use AI tools like ChatGPT and DeepSeek for official purposes. The decision comes as part of the government's effort to safeguard confidential data and sensitive documents from potential risks posed by these tools. "It has been determined that AI tools and AI apps (such as ChatGPT, DeepSeek etc.) in the office computers and devices pose risks for confidentiality of (government) data and documents," said the advisory by the Indian finance ministry dated January 29 (via Reuters). As AI technology continues to grow in popularity, governments around the world are beginning to raise alarms about potential data security breaches. Also read: OpenAI CEO Sam Altman to meet PM Modi this week: Here is everything we know so far This move follows similar restrictions in countries like Australia and Italy, which have also placed similar limits on using DeepSeek because of security risks. The timing of the advisory is interesting as it came just ahead of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman's scheduled visit to India. Altman is expected to meet with India's IT minister during his trip. The finance ministry confirmed that the advisory was indeed genuine and was shared internally with its staff this week. Also read: OpenAI faces legal heat in India, here's why The ban on AI tools follows ongoing legal challenges for OpenAI in India. The company is currently involved in a high-profile copyright infringement case with some of India's biggest media houses. OpenAI has argued that since its servers are not located in India, the country's courts should not hear the matter. I believe as the use of AI tools continues to expand across various sectors, concerns about data privacy and security will likely remain a major point of discussion for governments worldwide.

India's finance ministry asks employees to avoid AI tools like ChatGPT, DeepSeek

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India's finance ministry has asked its employees to avoid using AI tools including ChatGPT and DeepSeek for official purposes, citing risks posed to confidentiality of government documents and data, an internal department advisory showed. Countries like Australia and Italy have placed similar restrictions on the use of DeepSeek, citing data security risks. Reports of the advisory surfaced on social media on Tuesday, ahead of a scheduled visit to India by OpenAI chief Sam Altman on Wednesday, when he is also due to meet the IT minister. "It has been determined that AI tools and AI apps (such as ChatGPT, DeepSeek etc.) in the office computers and devices pose risks for confidentiality of (government) data and documents," said the advisory by the Indian finance ministry dated Jan. 29. Representatives for India's finance ministry, ChatGPT-parent OpenAI and DeepSeek did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Three finance ministry officials said the note was genuine and the note was issued internally this week. Reuters could not immediately confirm whether similar directives have been issued for other Indian ministries. OpenAI is facing heat in India due to a high-profile copyright infringement battle with the country's top media houses, and has said in court filings that it does not have its servers in the country and Indian courts should not hear the matter. (Reporting by Sarita Chaganti Singh and Nikunj Ohri; Additional reporting by Munsif Vengattil; Editing by Aditya Kalra)

India's Finance Ministry Asks Employees to Avoid AI Tools Like ChatGPT, DeepSeek

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India's finance ministry has asked its employees to avoid using AI tools including ChatGPT and DeepSeek for official purposes, citing risks posed to confidentiality of government documents and data, an internal department advisory showed. Countries like Australia and Italy have placed similar restrictions on the use of DeepSeek, citing data security risks. Reports of the advisory surfaced on social media on Tuesday, ahead of a scheduled visit to India by OpenAI chief Sam Altman on Wednesday, when he is also due to meet the IT minister. "It has been determined that AI tools and AI apps (such as ChatGPT, DeepSeek etc.) in the office computers and devices pose risks for confidentiality of (government) data and documents," said the advisory by the Indian finance ministry dated Jan. 29. Representatives for India's finance ministry, ChatGPT-parent OpenAI and DeepSeek did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Three finance ministry officials said the note was genuine and the note was issued internally this week. Reuters could not immediately confirm whether similar directives have been issued for other Indian ministries. OpenAI is facing heat in India due to a high-profile copyright infringement battle with the country's top media houses, and has said in court filings that it does not have its servers in the country and Indian courts should not hear the matter. (Reporting by Sarita Chaganti Singh and Nikunj Ohri; Additional reporting by Munsif Vengattil; Editing by Aditya Kalra)

Finance Ministry Asks Employees to Avoid AI Tools Like ChatGPT, DeepSeek

OpenAI chief Sam Altman is scheduled to visit India on Wednesday India's finance ministry has asked its employees to avoid using AI tools including ChatGPT and DeepSeek for official purposes, citing risks posed to confidentiality of government documents and data, an internal department advisory showed. Countries like Australia and Italy have placed similar restrictions on the use of DeepSeek, citing data security risks. Reports of the advisory surfaced on social media on Tuesday, ahead of a scheduled visit to India by OpenAI chief Sam Altman on Wednesday, when he is also due to meet the IT minister. "It has been determined that AI tools and AI apps (such as ChatGPT, DeepSeek etc.) in the office computers and devices pose risks for confidentiality of (government) data and documents," said the advisory by the Indian finance ministry dated Jan. 29. Representatives for India's finance ministry, ChatGPT-parent OpenAI and DeepSeek did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Three finance ministry officials said the note was genuine and the note was issued internally this week. Reuters could not immediately confirm whether similar directives have been issued for other Indian ministries. OpenAI is facing heat in India due to a high-profile copyright infringement battle with the country's top media houses, and has said in court filings that it does not have its servers in the country and Indian courts should not hear the matter. © Thomson Reuters 2025

Finance ministry asks employees not to use ChatGPT, DeepSeek for official work

The finance ministry has issued a warning to its employees against using artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT and DeepSeek on office devices. The advisory, approved by the finance secretary, highlights the risks these AI applications pose to the confidentiality of government data and documents, emphasizing the significant threat to data security associated with their use in the workplace.The finance ministry has warned its employees against the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools and apps on office devices, citing risks to the confidentiality of government data and documents. The advisory, which has been approved by the finance secretary, specifically mentions AI-powered tools such as ChatGPT and DeepSeek, stating that their use on office computers and devices poses a significant threat to data security. "It has been determined that Al tools and Al apps (such as ChatGPT, DeepSeek, etc.) in office computers and devices pose risks for confidentiality of government data and documents," the advisory said.