India May Issue Advisory Against DeepSeek Over Data Privacy Risks

The Indian government is expected to issue a security advisory against the use of Chinese AI tool DeepSeek, citing risks related to data privacy and potential cyber espionage. Officials indicate that the warning comes as CERT-In, India’s cybersecurity agency, investigates the app’s tracking mechanisms.

Key Concerns

• Data Collection: DeepSeek gathers user prompts, device metadata, and information from other sources, raising surveillance concerns.
• Cybersecurity Risks: CERT-In is evaluating potential threats, including tracking of user behavior and keystrokes.
• Government Advisory: A formal advisory restricting its use is likely soon, following a Finance Ministry directive urging officials to avoid AI tools like ChatGPT and DeepSeek.

Global Crackdown

Several governments, including those in Italy, Australia, and US federal agencies, have already banned DeepSeek from official devices over similar concerns.

DeepSeek’s Popularity in India

Despite security warnings, India accounted for 15.6% of all DeepSeek downloads globally as of February 1, according to Bloomberg.

With growing scrutiny over AI-driven data collection, India may soon join other nations in restricting the use of DeepSeek to safeguard national cybersecurity and user privacy.

Source: The Economic Times