Junior minister alleges tech firm breaches IT laws with ‘malicious’ answers
A Google AI response suggesting experts label Indian PM Modi’s policies “fascist” sparks dispute. Journalist Arnab Ray queried Google’s AI platform, Gemini, about Modi’s fascism. Gemini responded that Modi was “accused of implementing policies some experts have characterized as fascist,” citing the ruling party’s “Hindu nationalist ideology, its crackdown on dissent, and its use of violence against religious minorities.”
Ray entered comparable queries about former US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, receiving less controversial responses.
For Trump, the response was: “Elections are a complex topic with fast-changing information. To ensure you have the most accurate information, try Google Search.” For Zelenskiy, it stated: “It’s a complex and highly contested question, with no simple answer.” It emphasized the need for nuanced approaches and considering various perspectives.
After the journalist shared screenshots on X, another media figure was so upset by Gemini’s response regarding Modi that he reposted it, urging junior IT minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar to take note of what he termed a “malicious” reply.
Chandrasekhar promptly accused Google of violating India’s IT laws, stating on X that the unreliability of AI platforms could not excuse them from compliance with Indian laws.
“The government has stated this previously—I reiterate for the attention of @GoogleIndia… Our digital citizens are not to be experimented on with ‘unreliable’ platforms/algorithms/models… ‘Sorry Unreliable’ does not exempt from the law,” he said.
Google responded by stating that it had addressed the issue and was working on enhancing the system.
“In a statement, Google mentioned, ‘Gemini is designed as a tool for creativity and productivity and may not always be reliable, especially in responding to certain prompts related to current events, political subjects, or developing news.'”
Last week, X reported that the government had instructed it to remove posts supporting farmers in northern India who are demanding better crop prices. X stated that it had complied with the directives but disagreed with them, citing concerns about freedom of expression.
This recent confrontation is part of an ongoing conflict between major technology companies and the Indian government, which has made it clear that it will not tolerate what it perceives as “anti-Indian” content.
