India Issues Advisory on Chinese AI Tool DeepSeek Amid Data Privacy Concerns
Introduction
The central government of India is preparing to issue an advisory that warns users about data privacy and cyber spying risks associated with the Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) tool, DeepSeek. Senior officials revealed this information to the Economic Times (ET), highlighting the growing concerns over its use in the country.
Concerns Over Data Privacy
As part of their investigation, the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) has initiated a detailed inquiry into the potential risks associated with DeepSeek for Indian citizens. This investigation has raised alarms about the application’s ability to track user behavior, which includes:
- Prompts given to the chatbot
- Device data such as battery usage
- Interactions with other applications
- Keystrokes entered by users
Government’s Position
A senior government official mentioned, “There are concerns over the usage of DeepSeek; we can’t use it like we use ChatGPT.” The official emphasized the need for caution, indicating that a common advisory against its use would likely be released soon.
Directive from the Ministry of Finance
This move by the Information Technology (IT) Ministry follows a directive from the Ministry of Finance. Last week, the Ministry instructed its officers to cease the use of AI models, including both ChatGPT and DeepSeek, on official devices.
Cultural Concerns Regarding Data Security
An official acquainted with government strategy remarked, “India as a nation is not comfortable with allowing China access to Indians’ data due to the absence of accountability regarding how and where sensitive data is stored.”
International Response to DeepSeek
DeepSeek, which launched globally in January to considerable acclaim for its open-source model, has faced similar scrutiny from several other governments. Countries like Italy and Australia, as well as various U.S. federal agencies, have placed bans on the app for use on official devices.
Data Collection Methods of DeepSeek
According to sources with knowledge of CERT-In’s investigation, DeepSeek collects user data in multiple forms, including:
- User prompts (which include images, documents, and chat history)
- Automatically collected information (device data and cookies)
- Data obtained from other sources (crowdsourced or publicly available data)
Potential Spread of Misinformation
Worryingly, it was noted that DeepSeek could potentially manipulate political discourse by spreading misinformation. Cybersecurity experts stress that users need to understand that when something is offered for free, they often become the product.
Expert Opinions on DeepSeek
Prashant Mali, a cybersecurity expert and government advisor, stated, “While the tech ecosystem may function this way, DeepSeek presents distinct challenges. There is significant concern regarding accountability; these platforms do not comply with global regulations.”
Risks Associated with Data Sharing
Mali further cautioned that data gathered by DeepSeek could potentially be shared among corporate entities and accessed by Chinese law enforcement, raising alarms about the potential for bias and misinformation.
Global Concerns About DeepSeek
Australia has cited privacy and malware risks as reasons for banning DeepSeek on official devices. Taiwan has labeled the app a “security risk,” while South Korea’s ministries and police identified it as a “national security” concern due to the company’s non-response to data oversight requests.
Investigations in Italy
Italy has also initiated an investigation into DeepSeek’s R1 model, temporarily blocking it from processing data related to Italian users.
India’s Hosting Plans for DeepSeek
Recently, the IT Ministry communicated that the government had clarified hardware and operational requirements for hosting DeepSeek in India. It remains uncertain if this plan will now be revised in light of the rising concerns.
Conclusion
With increasing apprehensions surrounding the impact of AI tools like DeepSeek on privacy and security, the Indian government is taking steps to safeguard user data. The forthcoming advisory is expected to provide guidance on how users should engage with AI applications from foreign entities.
FAQs
1. What is DeepSeek?
DeepSeek is a Chinese AI application similar to ChatGPT, released in January. It has garnered global attention for its open-source model.
2. What are the primary concerns linked to DeepSeek?
The main concerns involve data privacy, potential misinformation, and the app’s ability to track user behavior without accountability.
3. What action is the Indian government taking against DeepSeek?
The government is expected to release an advisory cautioning users to avoid DeepSeek due to security risks.
4. Which other countries have banned DeepSeek?
Countries including Italy, Australia, and various U.S. federal agencies have banned DeepSeek from being used on official devices.
5. How does DeepSeek collect user data?
DeepSeek collects data through user prompts, automatically collected information from devices, and data from public sources.
