India’s finance ministry has advised its employees to refrain from using artificial intelligence tools such as ChatGPT and DeepSeek for official purposes due to concerns over data security and confidentiality, Reuters news report said.
The advisory, dated January 29, warns that AI tools pose risks when used on office computers and devices, as they could compromise sensitive government documents and data. This move aligns with similar restrictions imposed by countries like Australia and Italy, which have also cited data security risks associated with DeepSeek.
The advisory surfaced on social media just a day before OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s scheduled visit to India, where he is expected to meet the country’s IT minister. Despite the timing, representatives from India’s finance ministry, OpenAI, and DeepSeek have not provided any official comments on the matter. However, three officials from the finance ministry have confirmed the authenticity of the internal directive.
It remains unclear whether other ministries in India have received similar advisories restricting the use of AI tools. The decision also comes at a time when OpenAI is facing legal challenges in India, particularly a copyright infringement case brought by major media houses.
In its court filings, OpenAI has argued that it does not operate servers in India and that Indian courts should not have jurisdiction over the matter. This adds to the ongoing debate over AI regulations and the role of global AI companies in India’s digital ecosystem.
InfotechLead.com News Desk
