Finance Ministry bans use of ChatGPT, DeepSeek for official purposes
The Finance Ministry has issued an advisory to its employees, urging them to refrain from using AI tools such as ChatGPT and DeepSeek for official tasks. According to a report by Reuters, the ministry expressed concerns about the potential risks posed by these chatbots to the confidentiality of government data and documents.
The internal department advisory highlighted the risks associated with AI tools and apps like ChatGPT and DeepSeek installed on office computers and devices. The ministry emphasized the importance of safeguarding government data and documents from potential breaches.
India's stance on AI tools
The notification, dated January 29, coincided with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman's visit to India. Altman is scheduled to meet with IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw during his visit. Recently, Vaishnaw responded to the surge in popularity of DeepSeek by outlining India's plans to enhance its presence in the global AI landscape with the development of a foundational model.
Vaishnaw asserted that India aims to create world-class foundational AI models with superior algorithmic efficiency in a shorter timeframe. The minister also proposed hosting open-source models on Indian servers to address data privacy concerns associated with AI tools like DeepSeek.
Global scrutiny on DeepSeek
DeepSeek, despite its growing popularity, has faced increased regulatory scrutiny worldwide over its privacy policies. Notably, the Dutch privacy watchdog AP initiated an investigation into DeepSeek's privacy practices, focusing on its handling of personal user information.
Following privacy concerns, Italy banned the Chinese app DeepSeek, and Australia followed suit by prohibiting its use on government devices. The move reflects the heightened awareness and actions taken by authorities to address data privacy issues associated with AI technologies.
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