Recently, the Delhi High Court declined to expedite the hearing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking a ban on the artificial intelligence (AI) platform DeepSeek, owned by a Chinese company. The Court observed that if the platform poses a threat, users are free to refrain from using it. Emphasising the absence of urgency, the Court remarked that similar AI platforms have long been available in India and dismissed the plea for an early hearing.
The PIL raised concerns regarding the privacy and security implications of DeepSeek and sought directions to frame guidelines for blocking access to such AI tools. The petitioner contended that the platform posed risks to data security and user privacy, necessitating immediate judicial intervention.
During the proceedings, the counsel for the petitioner sought a priority hearing, arguing that the matter was sensitive. However, the Court questioned the urgency, stating that multiple AI applications with similar functionalities have been accessible in India for a considerable time. The Bench further remarked, “If it is so harmful, don’t use it. Is it compulsory for you to use it?” The Court also noted that unrestricted access to various online platforms is not a novel issue.
Observing that the petitioner failed to establish a compelling reason for urgency, the Court held that there was no justification for advancing the hearing. The Bench reiterated that numerous AI platforms exist and remain accessible globally, making the present matter unsuitable for priority consideration.
Ultimately, the Delhi High Court rejected the application for early hearing, concluding that no exceptional circumstances warranted deviation from the scheduled hearing date.
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