NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court has raised concerns over the potential risks posed by artificial intelligence (AI), stating that such tools are dangerous regardless of who controls them. The observation came from a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyay and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela while addressing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking restrictions on Chinese AI company DeepSeek.
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During the hearing on Wednesday, the court directed the Union government’s counsel to obtain instructions on the issue. The bench emphasized that the nationality of AI developers—whether American or Chinese—does not diminish the inherent risks associated with such technology. Justice Gedela remarked, “AI is a dangerous tool in anybody’s hands. It doesn’t make a difference whether it is Chinese or American. The government is well aware of these concerns.”
The PIL raises privacy and security concerns regarding DeepSeek and calls for mechanisms to block access to such platforms. At the outset, the court sought clarification on the legal framework that governs the blocking of such websites in India. Additionally, the petitioner urged the government to take proactive steps in educating the public about the risks associated with AI-driven platforms and to formulate guidelines for restricting their access.
The Union government’s counsel informed the court that the matter is already under consideration. However, when asked to clarify whether any action was being taken or merely contemplated, the counsel was unable to provide a definitive response. Consequently, the court adjourned the hearing to allow the government time to furnish a clearer position.
Justice Gedela also weighed in on the broader debate surrounding data security, stating, “You are in the dark web 97%. What are you saying? You are the next generation, you know more than us. Do you really think any data is safe? Are you aware of the dark web and how 97% of the iceberg is submerged? Let them consider the issue; we are giving them an opportunity.”
The PIL has named multiple respondents, including the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, CERT-In, the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre, Google LLC, Apple India Pvt. Ltd., and DeepSeek’s developers.
The court has scheduled the next hearing for February 20.
Advocates Nihit Dalmia and Bhavna Sharma represented the petitioner, while Advocate Ishkaran Bhandari appeared on behalf of the Union government.
