India's finance ministry advises staff against using ChatGPT, DeepSeek
1. Ministry's internal advisory says AI platforms like ChatGPT, DeepSeek pose confidentiality risks
India's Finance Ministry Bans Use of AI Tools Like ChatGPT and DeepSeek Over Data Security Concerns
India’s finance ministry has directed its employees to avoid using AI tools such as ChatGPT and DeepSeek for official work, citing risks to the confidentiality and security of government data, according to an internal advisory.
The move aligns with similar restrictions imposed by countries like Australia and Italy, which have raised concerns over DeepSeek’s data security practices. Reports of the advisory surfaced on social media on Tuesday, just ahead of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s scheduled visit to India on Wednesday, where he is set to meet with the IT minister.
"It has been determined that AI tools and AI apps (such as ChatGPT, DeepSeek, etc.) on office computers and devices pose risks to the confidentiality of government data and documents," the advisory, dated January 29, stated.
Representatives from India’s finance ministry, OpenAI (ChatGPT’s parent company), and DeepSeek have not yet responded to requests for comment.
Three officials from the finance ministry confirmed the authenticity of the advisory, which was issued internally this week. However, Reuters has not yet verified whether similar directives apply to other Indian ministries.
Meanwhile, OpenAI is under legal scrutiny in India due to an ongoing copyright infringement case filed by the country’s leading media houses. In court filings, OpenAI has argued that it does not have servers in India and that Indian courts should not have jurisdiction over the matter.
