Ban on DeepSeek AI
China's AI chatbot DeepSeek AI has recently become a topic of discussion globally. It was initially seen as a response to China's ChatGPT, but within a few days it came under strong scrutiny from government regulators in various countries.
The countries that have banned DeepSeek include the US, Australia, South Korea and India and others. The countries that have banned it say that this is being done due to concerns related to security and data privacy.
Many countries have imposed partial or full bans on DeepSeek AI, preventing government employees, public institutions and in some cases ordinary citizens from using it.
Why is DeepSeek AI being banned?
Data privacy risks - concerns about how user data is collected, stored and used.
National security issue - threats of leaks of sensitive information and cross-border data transmission.
Cybersecurity concerns - potential vulnerabilities present in AI platforms, which could put government and personal data at risk.
Lack of transparency - DeepSeek AI developers not providing clear information on data handling policies.
Given the growing use of generative AI, countries are now becoming more cautious about how foreign AI models process and store user data, especially hen AI belongs to countries where government surveillance policies are strict.
Countries banning DeepSeek AI
1. Italy - First country to ban DeepSeek AI Italy became the first country in the world to ban DeepSeek AI. DeepSeek AI has been removed from Italy's app stores. It has been made completely unavailable to the general public.
Reason for ban: Italy's Data Protection Authority (DPA) raised concerns about the AI chatbot's data collection and user privacy policies. After a complaint by a consumer rights group called Euroconsumers, the DPA sought information from
the developers of DeepSeek AI, but was banned after not receiving a satisfactory answer.
2. Taiwan – Ban over national security and data protection
Taiwan has not imposed a blanket ban on DeepSeek AI, but has restricted its use in the public sector.
Ban in government schools and state-owned companies – Use of DeepSeek AI prohibited in students and government organizations.
Ban in critical infrastructure – Not allowed to integrate DeepSeek AI in key industries.
Taiwan’s Ministry of Digital Affairs has cited the risk of data leaks in DeepSeek AI and potential surveillance by the Chinese government as the main reasons.
3. Australia – Ban on DeepSeek AI as a security threat
Australia recently banned the use of DeepSeek AI for government employees.
The National Intelligence Assessment termed DeepSeek AI as an “unacceptable security risk”.
Threat of misuse of AI and espionage by foreign entities.
No ban on personal devices, but citizens advised to exercise caution. The Australian government has urged its citizens to be vigilant about online data privacy, stating that the risk of AI-driven cyber threats is growing.
Impact of the ban on DeepSeek AI
The increasing restrictions on DeepSeek AI point to a shift in AI regulation globally. Countries are now prioritising their cybersecurity and data sovereignty, ensuring that AI platforms:
Follow strict privacy policies.
Be compliant with local cybersecurity laws.
Comply with international data protection agreements.
These restrictions also reflect that geopolitical tensions between China and Western countries are rising, and AI technology is now becoming central to the new competition for digital security and global technological supremacy.
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Ban on begging in public places
After Indore in Madhya Pradesh, Bhopal administration has also banned begging in all public places.
What is begging?
Begging usually involves asking for money or other types of help from strangers in public places. Begging includes children, elderly, disabled, women and men from roads, parks, intersections, religious places to common places.
Cause of begging
Financial crisis-People are attracted towards begging due to poverty, unemployment, low wages and loss of income.
Social factors-People are forced to beg due to lack of education, limited access to social services and social exclusion.
Disability-Inability to work due to physical or mental disability also forces people to beg.
Natural disasters-Natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes or droughts, as well as regional and ethnic conflicts can displace people from their native places and force them to resort to begging for their basic needs.
Cultural aspects-In some cultures, begging is part of religious practices where monks or nuns traditionally beg.
Psychological factors-Sociological studies suggest that psychological factors such as laziness and aversion to physical labour also drive some individuals to beg.
Critics argue that public alms-giving perpetuates the cycle, leading to a dependency mentality rather than empowerment.
For example, Bharat Jain of Mumbai is recognized as the richest beggar in the world. He reportedly earns around ₹2,500 ($30) per day and has amassed a net worth of around ₹7.5 crore ($890,000).
State of Begging in India
- India has more than 400,000 regular beggars. Organised begging gangs have turned their deprivation into a lucrative business. These gangs prey on the most vulnerable members of society.
- West Bengal has the highest number of beggars in India, followed by Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh.
- The concentration of beggars in these regions reflects a mix of socio-economic factors including poverty, rural-urban migration and a lack of accessible support systems.
Issues Related to Begging in India
Organised Cartels
Begging gangs operate in designated areas and collect daily earnings from individuals under their control. Violence and coercion are often used to continue these operations.
Child Abuse
Children who beg are the most vulnerable. They are forced to drop out of school, leaving them with little hope of a better future. Infants are often drugged to make them appear sick while young children are rented out or kidnapped.
These organised systems perpetuate the cycle of poverty as well as a lack of education and opportunities for children, trapping them in a life of deprivation.
Provisions to end begging in India
Legal Provisions
- Indian Civil Safety Code, 2023
- The order prohibiting begging in public places in Indore and Bhopal has been issued under Section 163 of the Indian Civil Safety Code (BNSS), 2023.
- The order has banned begging (bhikshavrutti) in public places.
- The law empowers authorities, including the District Magistrate, Sub-Divisional Magistrate or any other Executive Magistrate, to issue orders in urgent cases of ‘nuisance or apprehended danger’.
- The order can direct any person to abstain from a certain act. It may apply to persons residing in a particular place or area or to persons visiting or visiting a particular place or area.
- Disobedience of an order promulgated by a public servant as per this order will attract action under section 223 of the Indian Penal Code (BNSS).
- No order under section 163 of the BNSS shall remain in force for more than two months, provided the State Government considers it necessary that the order remains in force for a period exceeding six months.
Bombay Prevention of Beggary Act, 1959
- The first law against beggary was the Bombay Prevention of Beggary Act, 1959. Its main basis was the Bengal Vagrancy Act, 1943 and the Cochin Vagrancy Act, 1945.
- This Act was framed to keep destitute persons, leprosy patients or people with mental illnesses away from public places in the then Bombay.
- Section 10 of the Act empowers a Chief Commissioner to order the detention of ‘incurably helpless beggars’ who can be detained ‘indefinitely’.
- Mumbai has detention centres for people detained by the police on suspicion of being beggars.
- There is no central act banning begging in India but several states, including Maharashtra, criminalise begging under the said Act.
Policy initiatives
- The Destitute Persons (Protection, Care and Rehabilitation) Model Bill, 2016 focuses on eliminating beggary and setting up rehabilitation centres for destitute persons in every district. However, discussions on the bill later stalled Several states have announced policies to make cities ‘beggar-free’.
- In 2020, the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment proposed to focus on rehabilitation rather than criminalising beggary.
SMILE Scheme
- The Support for Marginalised Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise (SMILE) scheme is a central government initiative aimed at rehabilitating beggars by providing them medical care, education and skill training.
- Launched in December 2022, the scheme aims to make Indian cities ‘beggar-free’ by 2026.
Indore: Case Study
- The Indore administration has taken a pioneering approach by announcing a ban on begging from January 1, 2025. The administration has announced a fine on residents who give alms to beggars.
- Awareness Drive: During December 2024, Indore administration has made citizens aware about the harmful effects of street begging and urged them to support rehabilitation centres instead.
- Rehabilitation Efforts: Indore administration is relocating beggars to shelters under the SMILE scheme where they get counselling, healthcare and vocational training.
Rajasthan: Case Study
- Rajasthan has taken some constructive steps to tackle the problem of begging through Project Bhor and the Beggar Rehabilitation Act, 2012.
- These initiatives emphasize empowerment rather than punishment by promoting skill development, vocational activities and social inclusion of beggars, homeless and disabled.
- Project Bhor (Bhikshu Orientation and Rehabilitation): Vocational training program under Rajasthan Skill and Livelihood Development Corporation (RSLDC).
- Training in cooking, sewing, plumbing, electrical work and security services
- Graduates have found jobs in organisations such as Akshaya Patra and Fortis Hospital.
- Rajasthan Beggar Rehabilitation Act, 2012: It focuses on rehabilitation rather than punishment for begging.
- It establishes rehabilitation homes that provide skill building and social integration support.
- Homeless Upliftment and Rehabilitation Policy, 2022: It targets homeless individuals, nomadic tribes and persons with disabilities.
- Ensures access to welfare schemes, legal rights and skill training for reintegration.
Judicial Decisions
- In 2018, the Delhi High Court decriminalised begging, declaring certain sections of the 1959 Act unconstitutional.
- It was the first court in the country to strike down provisions of the 1959 Act, which allowed authorities to arrest any person begging without a warrant.
- The court observed that it is the state’s responsibility to ensure social security and basic amenities to all citizens, while the presence of beggars is evidence that the state has not succeeded in providing basic amenities to all its citizens.
Way Forward
Systemic changes and collaborative efforts are needed to address the complex problem of begging in India.
Centralised rehabilitation framework
Centralised shelter and rehabilitation programmes are important to provide sustainable alternatives for beggars. Fulora Foundation’s Beggar Free Mission focuses on complete rehabilitation of beggars by providing them training, identification and self-employment opportunities.
Centric support for children
- Child begging is a complex issue. Protection and education of these children is essential to break this cycle.
- Lehar Initiative: Lehar collaborates with organisations like Prerana to rescue children from the streets, rehabilitate them and reintegrate them into the mainstream.
- UNICEF India: UNICEF works to prevent child exploitation, including child labour and begging, by ensuring access to education and providing legal and social support systems.
Eradicating begging syndicates
- Organised begging gangs exploit vulnerable people, especially children and persons with disabilities. Targeting these syndicates is essential to address the root causes.
- Kailash Satyarthi Children’s Foundation (KSCF): Founded by Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi, the foundation works to eradicate child trafficking and labour, including networks that exploit children for begging.
Changing cultural norms on giving
- Cultural norms on alms-giving often promote begging. Public education campaigns are needed to encourage more meaningful giving.
- National Human Rights Commission (NHRC): It has issued advisories for the protection and rehabilitation of beggars.
- Also, educate citizens about redirecting donations towards structured programmes.
- Prioritising mental health and disability support is important as a large proportion of beggars suffer from untreated mental illnesses or physical disabilities.
Addressing economic inequality
Targeting economic inequality can reduce reliance on begging. The Varanasi-based Common Man Trust Beggar Corporation programme turns beggars into entrepreneurs.
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