Delhi High Court Orders Immediate Action Against AI-Generated Deepfake Videos of India TV Chairman Rajat Sharma

In a significant move to curb the misuse of artificial intelligence (AI) and protect individual rights, the Delhi High Court has directed Meta Platforms Inc., the parent company of Facebook, to immediately block and remove all deepfake videos of India TV Chairman and Editor-in-Chief Rajat Sharma. These doctored videos, created using AI, falsely promote spurious medicines for ailments such as diabetes, prostatitis, and joint pain.

The Court has also instructed Meta to provide the names, addresses, email IDs, and phone numbers of the users responsible for posting these videos.

Justice Amit Bansal’s Directions
In a comprehensive order, Justice Amit Bansal has:

Directed the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) to issue notifications to telecom and internet service providers to block or suspend websites, phone numbers, social media accounts, and platforms notified by the plaintiff for infringing rights.
Explicitly restrained individuals and entities from unauthorized use of India TV’s registered trademarks, logos, and content, ensuring protection against tarnishing or diluting the goodwill and reputation of Rajat Sharma and India TV.
The case will now be heard on April 3, 2025.

Rajat Sharma’s Petition Highlights
Represented by Senior Advocate Saikrishna Rajagopal, Rajat Sharma’s petition outlines:

The submission of eight Facebook links that perpetuate misinformation using AI-generated, doctored videos mimicking his appearance, voice, and personality traits.
Misuse of his and other eminent personalities’ likenesses, including Amitabh Bachchan and Dr. Naresh Trehan, to falsely endorse dubious medicines and health remedies.
Unauthorized use of India TV trademarks and logos of his popular show “Aaj Ki Baat,” leading to infringement of intellectual property rights.
Impact on Public Trust and Reputation
The petition emphasizes that these false endorsements harm Sharma’s professional integrity and the trust reposed in him as a journalist. Unlike celebrity endorsements of lifestyle or luxury goods, the misuse of his persona for promoting fraudulent health remedies poses a grave risk to public health and safety.

Justice Bansal underscored the infringement of intellectual property rights and emphasized the need to protect the plaintiff’s goodwill and reputation from being tarnished.

Key Takeaways
This landmark decision sets a precedent for addressing AI-driven deepfake misuse, protecting public figures’ rights, and curbing misinformation. It reinforces the judiciary’s role in safeguarding individuals from the perils of digital misrepresentation.

Author: Sania Khan