The Indian government is closely tracking the rapid rise of DeepSeek’s AI model, particularly in the app store rankings, with heightened scrutiny on potential risks to citizen sovereignty and data security. This investigation follows allegations that the app may have ties to China, raising concerns about safeguarding user data and its potential misuse, according to media reports.
Concerns Over Data Privacy
DeepSeek, an open-source AI app that operates locally on smartphones, has come under fire for its privacy practices. Sources indicate concerns about the cross-border transfer of sensitive data, especially with reports suggesting that user data may be stored on servers in China. Despite the problems, a senior government official stated that, at present, there are no immediate issues, but the government will take action as needed if any data transmission problems arise.
India banned several Chinese apps, including WeChat and TikTok, in 2020 over national security concerns amid rising border tensions.
Potential Action Based on Data Flow Monitoring
Indian authorities will soon have a clearer picture of how the app handles Indian users’ data. If any violations are found, the government will take appropriate measures in accordance with the country’s IT regulations.
According to DeepSeek’s privacy policy, experts believe the app likely stores user data on servers in China. The policy explicitly states, “We store the information we collect in secure servers located in the People’s Republic of China” and assures users that any data transferred outside their country will comply with relevant data protection laws.
Global Scrutiny of DeepSeek
Concerns over DeepSeek’s data handling practices have grown globally since the app became the most downloaded free app in the US App Store. Alongside competitors like Google’s Gemini and OpenAI’s ChatGPT, DeepSeek remains one of India’s top free productivity apps on the Google Play Store.
Several countries have raised alarms, including Australia, which has warned its citizens about the app. The United States is already investigating the national security implications of DeepSeek’s operations, while Italy’s data protection office has expressed concerns about handling user data. Privacy experts warn that the app could create detailed user profiles based on prompts and questions, even without storing the data. They suggest that these profiles could be misused.
Government Oversight
Indian authorities are closely monitoring developments, including the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), the Ministry of Home Affairs, and law enforcement agencies. If any suspicious data transfers are identified, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) will be notified.
According to an official, the current regulations allow the government to halt such data transfers if necessary, providing enabling provisions for further action.