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The Finance Ministry of India released an official directive that blocks staff from using AI tools including ChatGPT and DeepSeek for workplace activities. According to various media reports officials took this decision because they worry about government document security and privacy risks. Restrictions regarding the use of AI programs such as ChatGPT and DeepSeek apply to employees at Australian and Italian institutions leading to worries about potential information misuse.

Tuesday brought public disclosure about the advisory when OpenAI CEO Sam Altman was planning to visit India on Wednesday to meet with the IT Minister.

The office computers and devices containing AI tools and apps (such as ChatGPT and DeepSeek and others) have led to security risks regarding government document and data confidentiality according to an internal memorandum from January 29 (2025) released by India's Finance Ministry.


The officials representing India’s Finance Ministry together with OpenAI and DeepSeek failed to reply when contacted about the departmental advisory.

Multiple Finance Ministry officials verified reports about the office-wide restriction through an issued directive which banned official use of AI tools especially after it became operational this week.

The extent to which Indian ministries besides Finance Ministry will receive AI restrictions remains uncertain because Reuters was unable to validate any government-wide guidelines regarding these limitations. The advisory matches global security concerns that AI-based data protection risks pose to official and confidential communication channels.

OpenAI is currently facing copyright infringement lawsuits in India where major media organizations filed legal complaints against it. The company OpenAI filed legal documents stating it operates without servers in India while it defends against Indian court authority for jurisdiction in this specific case.