The finance ministry has advised its employees against using AI tools like ChatGPT and DeepSeek for official work, warning that they could compromise the confidentiality of government documents and data, according to an internal advisory.
Several countries, including Australia and Italy, have imposed similar restrictions on DeepSeek due to data security concerns. Reports of the advisory emerged on social media on Tuesday, just a day before OpenAI chief Sam Altman’s scheduled visit to India, where he is set to meet the IT minister.
The Indian finance ministry’s advisory, dated January 29, stated that AI tools like ChatGPT and DeepSeek on office computers and devices could pose risks to the confidentiality of government data and documents.
Neither India’s finance ministry nor representatives from OpenAI and DeepSeek have responded to requests for comment.
Three officials from the finance ministry confirmed the authenticity of the note, stating that it was issued internally this week. However, Reuters could not verify whether other Indian ministries have implemented similar directives.
Meanwhile, OpenAI is under pressure in India over a high-profile copyright infringement case filed by major media houses. In its court filings, the company has argued that, since it does not have servers in India, local courts.
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Reason behind the warning
This restriction is mainly due to concerns over data security and the risk of sensitive government information being exposed through AI tools. The government wants to prevent potential misuse or leaks of classified data.
Despite these rules for government employees, ChatGPT remains fully accessible to the general public in India. People can continue to use it for education, research, business, and other purposes without any restrictions.
The primary reason for these restrictions is the concern over data security and the risk of misuse. Authorities worry that sensitive government information could be compromised through AI tools like ChatGPT.
However, despite these limitations for government employees, ChatGPT remains accessible to the public in India, allowing individuals to use it for education, research, business, and more.
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