The Indian Finance Ministry has issued an advisory instructing its employees to refrain from using artificial intelligence tools such as ChatGPT and DeepSeek for official work.
The decision comes amid concerns over the confidentiality of sensitive government documents and data.
According to reports, an internal advisory dated 29 January warned that AI tools pose risks when accessed through office computers and devices. The move is in line with global concerns about data security, as AI applications process vast amounts of information that could be susceptible to breaches.
News of the advisory surfaced on Wednesday, coinciding with the visit of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman to India, where he met with IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.
The timing has sparked discussions on the broader implications of AI adoption in India and the government’s strategy in handling emerging technologies.
India has been exploring the development of its own AI models to compete with global platforms. The IT minister had earlier emphasised that Indian-made foundational AI models would be on par with leading global counterparts.
He expressed confidence that with algorithmic efficiency, these models could be developed in a much shorter time frame. The minister assured that India would have a world-class AI model within a few months.
The government is also considering measures to address data privacy concerns related to AI tools. The IT minister had suggested that hosting open-source models on Indian servers could enhance security and protect user data.
This reflects India’s growing ambition to establish itself as a key player in AI development while ensuring data sovereignty.
Meanwhile, AI tools like DeepSeek have been facing increasing scrutiny from regulators worldwide. Dutch privacy watchdog AP recently launched an investigation into DeepSeek’s data policies, particularly its handling of personal information.
The Chinese AI platform has already been banned in Italy due to unresolved privacy concerns.
Australia also took a firm stance against DeepSeek, announcing a ban on its use across all government devices. The decision aligns with similar measures taken by other countries to safeguard sensitive information from potential data leaks and unauthorised access.
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