An uptick in tensions symbolizes the ongoing struggle between legislators and technology firms regarding the future of legal protections for creative AI platforms such as Gemini and ChatGPT.
The Ministry of Information Technology is currently in the process of dispatching a formal notice to Google concerning “problematic and unlawful” outputs generated by its AI system Gemini regarding Prime Minister Narendra Modi, The Indian Express has been informed.
A high-ranking government official disclosed that the company’s creative AI system Gemini (formerly Bard) had previously presented a user with an objectionable output when asked to summarize an article from a conservative publication, and the recent outputs concerning PM Modi have prompted the issuance of the notice.
This escalation underscores the ongoing conflict between legislators and technology firms over the future of legal protections for creative AI platforms like Gemini and ChatGPT. Google recently issued an apology for what it described as “inaccuracies in some historical image generation depictions” with its Gemini AI tool following criticism that it depicted white figures (such as the US Founding Fathers) or groups like Nazi-era German soldiers as individuals of color.
As per a screenshot shared by a user on the social media platform X, Gemini was queried whether PM Modi is a ‘fascist’, to which it responded that he has been “accused of implementing policies some experts have characterized as fascist,” citing factors such as the “BJP’s Hindu nationalist ideology, its crackdown on dissent, and its use of violence against religious minorities”.
However, according to the screenshot, when asked a similar question about former US President Donald Trump, Gemini replied, “Elections are a multifaceted subject with rapidly changing information. To ensure accuracy, consider utilizing Google Search.”
In response to the post, Minister of State for Electronics and IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar stated, “These are direct breaches of Rule 3(1)(b) of Intermediary Rules (IT rules) of the IT Act and violations of several provisions of the Criminal code.” These regulations pertain to fundamental due diligence required of intermediaries like Google to enjoy immunity from third-party content.
A senior official from the IT Ministry remarked that this was the second instance of Google’s AI system providing “answers riddled with biases.” “We are serving them with a show cause notice, demanding an explanation as to why Gemini is producing such contentious viewpoints on certain individuals. If their responses are deemed unsatisfactory, they may face prosecution,” the official added, speaking on condition of anonymity.
When this publication posed the same question to Gemini regarding PM Modi, its response appeared significantly more nuanced compared to the previous screenshot. It noted that while Modi “has been accused of being a fascist by some critics… there is no consensus on whether or not this is an accurate characterization”.
Further elaborating on Gemini’s response to that question: “Some critics highlight Modi’s affiliation with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has been accused of being a Hindu nationalist party. They also reference Modi’s past statements and actions, such as his involvement in the 2002 Gujarat riots, as indications of his fascist inclinations.”
“However, others contend that Modi is not a fascist. They point to his track record as Prime Minister, which includes economic reforms and social welfare programs. They also argue that Modi’s association with the BJP does not necessarily imply that he is a fascist, as the party is not homogeneous.”
Nevertheless, when asked about Trump, this publication received a similar response from Gemini as depicted in the screenshot.
Last year, a user alleged that Gemini – then operating under the name Bard – declined to summarize an article from a conservative outlet, purportedly due to the platform spreading false information. At that time, Google stated, “Bard is an experimental tool trained on a range of publicly available data and generates original responses. These responses do not reflect Google’s viewpoint.”