Read Time: 04 minutes
The plea highlighted global concerns over DeepSeek's privacy and security practices. Italy banned it for privacy violations, while Australia prohibited its use on government devices. Data regulators in Ireland, Belgium, Greece, South Korea, Taiwan, the U.S., and France launched investigations into its operations.
The Delhi High Court, on Wednesday, issued a notice in a public interest litigation seeking restrictions on the access of a Chinese-owned artificial intelligence chatbox, DeepSeek.
The bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyay and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela acknowledged that AI could be a dangerous tool in anyone's hand whether it be the American or Chinese Government. The court listed the matter for February 20, 2025.
The PIL, filed by a practicing Advocate Bhavna Sharma, highlighted concerns over the security and privacy of the chatbox. It was argued that within a month of its launch, multiple vulnerabilities were identified, resulting in an online data leak of one million pieces of sensitive personal data.
Advocate Nihit Dalmia, representing the petitioner, also asserted that the Ministry of Finance has issued an internal directive to government departments to avoid using AI tools including DeepSeek and ChatGPT on office devices to avoid the potential risk of leakage of sensitive government data.
Interestingly, similar pleas have already been filed in the High Court. Advocate Chaitanya Rohilla had filed a plea in 2024 seeking a regulatory framework governing artificial intelligence (AI) and deepfake technologies, drawing attention to their potential far-reaching consequences. The petition focused on the malicious use of AI, particularly deepfakes, for spreading misinformation and targeted propaganda, raising significant ethical concerns. Deepfakes, created using advanced deep learning techniques, were described as synthetic media forms that pose serious ethical challenges.
In that plea, the court remarked, “I am shocked that what I can see with my own eyes, and hear with my ears is fake”.
Aap ki Adalat host and journalist Rajat Sharma had also approached the High Court expressing concerns over the lack of regulation surrounding deepfake technology in India. The plea highlighted the potential dangers associated with deep fake technology, including its contribution to misinformation, and its threat to public discourse, democratic processes, and individual privacy.
For Petitioner: Advocate Nihit DalmiaCase Title: Bhavna Sharma v Union Of India ( W.P.(C) 1762 / 2025)[Inputs: ANI]
Please Login or Register
