Indian Government To Issue Advisory on Data Privacy Concerns Surrounding Chinese AI Tool DeepSeek

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 said that Indian citizens’ data is at risk with this application. The advisory is being issued due to concerns over the usage of DeepSeek, which is similar to US-based open-source model from OpenAI.

There are concerns that the AI tool is being used for malicious purposes and spreading misinformation. The possibility of data breaches and cyber threats has raised concerns among experts. World leaders such as Italy, Australia, and the US have already banned the use of DeepSeek on official devices.

DeepSeek is a Chinese AI application released in January for its open-source model at a lower cost compared to its rivals. A senior government official said, “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.”

The IT ministry’s move comes after the Ministry of Finance asked its officers to stop using AI models like ChatGPT and DeepSeek. The government is concerned about the lack of accountability in how the Chinese law enforces use and store sensitive data. The risk of data sharing among corporate groups, Chinese law enforcement, and potential misuse by external groups are major concerns.

An official stated that the AI tool can track user data, device logs, and keystrokes. It can even monitor the usage of other applications and websites. Cybersecurity experts warn that users should be cautious when receiving something for free because they are essentially the product.

Several countries have already issued warnings or banned DeepSeek on official devices. India is likely to join the list soon.

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