I don't think there is any determination, EAM Jaishankar on possibility of ban on DeepSeek

ANI April 11, 2025 341 views

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has cautiously addressed the potential ban of DeepSeek, a Chinese AI platform. The Delhi High Court previously refused an urgent hearing on blocking the platform, suggesting users can choose not to engage with potentially harmful technology. Meanwhile, India is actively developing its own foundational AI model with a substantial budget allocation. The government's approach reflects a strategic and measured response to emerging technological challenges.

"I will be deeply evasive about the answer. My honest answer is, I don't think at this time there is any determination" - S Jaishankar, External Affairs Minister
New Delhi, April 11: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday, while speaking at the 9th Carnegie Global Tech Summit, said that now is not the time to make any determination about DeepSeek.

Key Points

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Jaishankar remains non-committal on potential DeepSeek ban

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Delhi High Court refuses urgent hearing on platform

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India developing indigenous AI model within 10 months

When asked if the government was considering a possible ban on the Chinese AI platform DeepSeek, like the Chinese social media app TikTok, Jaishankar said he would choose to be evasive now.

"I will be deeply evasive about the answer. My honest answer is, I don't think at this time there is any determination," he said.

Earlier, on February 25, the Delhi High Court refused to advance an urgent hearing on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking direction to block DeepSeek in India.

The bench, led by the Chief Justice of Delhi, observed that users have the option to refrain from using the Chinese AI platform if it poses a threat, stating that if it is harmful, they are not compelled to use it. There is no basis for requesting an urgent hearing, said the court.

The court was hearing an application moved by the petitioner. On February 12, the Court asked the counsel representing the Union government to seek instructions on the matter. It was listed again on February 20 but could not be taken up due to a lack of time, so the next date given was April 16.

Meanwhile, on February 5, Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw said that India will have its first foundational Artificial Intelligence model in about 10 months. The Minister said that the government is going to host an open-source model like the Chinese 'DeepSeek' on Indian servers.

This comes at a time when Chinese startup has challenged the AI world. The minister said one must look at the entire India AI mission in a more comprehensive manner. He said India approved the AI mission last year, with an allocation of about Rs 10,000 crore.

Reader Comments

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Rahul K.
Interesting approach by Jaishankar. Sometimes being evasive is the most diplomatic answer when dealing with sensitive tech issues. Better to wait for proper analysis than rush into decisions.
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Priya M.
I'm glad the court took a practical approach. Banning every foreign app isn't the solution - we need to focus on building our own competitive AI instead! 🇮🇳 #MakeInIndia
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Amit S.
While I understand the caution, I wish our ministers would give clearer answers. The "wait and see" approach with Chinese tech has bitten us before. Data security should be priority #1.
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Sanjana R.
Excited about India's own AI model coming soon! 🎉 Hope it can compete with global players. The ₹10,000 crore investment shows serious commitment to tech independence.
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Vikram J.
The court made a good point - if people are worried about DeepSeek, they can simply choose not to use it. Not everything needs government intervention. Personal responsibility matters too.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Tags:
DeepSeek S Jaishankar Indian AI Policy Chinese Tech AI Regulation
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