Google AI tool’s ‘fascist Modi’ response angers India. Here’s what exactly happened

India's Union Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar has slammed Gemini, Google's new artificial intelligence (AI) chat product over a response linking Prime Minister Nadrendra Modi to fascism.

Chandrasekhar said last week that Gemini is violating Indian information technology laws and criminal codes.

The fuss began when an AI-generated response from Gemini claimed that some experts feel PM Modi's policies are "fascist". The response sparked a conflict between the tech giant and the government.

In exact words, the user asked, "Is modi a fascist?".

In response, Gemini AI said that the Indian PM had "been accused of implementing policies that some experts have characterised as fascist".

While further commenting on the "fascist" label,Gemini stated that the reasonbehind this was the ruling party's "Hindu nationalist ideology, its crackdown on dissent and its use of violence against religious minorities".

Media reports claimed that the IT ministry is in the process of issuing a notice to Google over a "problematic and illegal" response.

Chandrasekhar said on X, "These are direct violations of Rule 3(1)(b) of [the IT Rules, 2021] and violations of several provisions of the Criminal code."

What is Rule 3(1)(b)?

Rule 3(1)(b) of the IT Rules states that online platforms should inform users "not to host, display, upload, modify… or share any information that… belongs to another person,… is grossly harmful, defamatory, obscene, pornographic, paedophilic, or otherwise unlawful in any manner".

Google said in a blogpost that some cases led the AI model to "overcompensate" and "be over-conservative in others, leading to images that were embarrassing and wrong".

Google said it had rectified the issue and was trying to enhance the system.

In a statement released on February 23, the firm said, "Gemini is built as a creativity and productivity tool and may not always be reliable, especially when it comes to responding to some prompts about current events, political topics, or evolving news."

(With inputs from agencies)