New Delhi: The Delhi High Court observed on Tuesday that if the Chinese AI platform DeepSeek is perceived as a threat, users can simply abstain from using it.

The Division Bench, consisting of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, made this remark while dismissing a plea to expedite the hearing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that seeks to block DeepSeek in India.

"If it’s so harmful, don’t use it. Is it compulsory for you to use it?," Justice Upadhyaya said.

The PIL sought directions to formulate guidelines to block access to such AI tools. Earlier this month, the Court had directed a counsel representing the Union government to seek instructions on the matter.