The court orders takedown of defamatory content and summons defendants in a landmark case concerning unauthorized use of AI technologies to infringe personality rights.
In a significant legal development, the Delhi High Court, presided over by Justice Subramonium Prasad, has issued an interim relief order in the case of "Raghav Chadha v. Ashok Kumar John Doe" concerning the unauthorized use of AI-generated technologies to infringe upon personality rights. The case, which involves the use of AI to create deepfakes, morphing, and other derogatory content aimed at maligning the reputation of Raghav Chadha, underscores the growing legal challenges posed by advanced digital technologies.
The plaintiff, Raghav Chadha, a prominent political figure, filed the suit following a campaign of malicious AI-generated content disseminated after his political transition from AAP to BJP. The content in question includes unauthorized use of Chadha's name, likeness, image, voice, and other personal attributes.
In his order, Justice Prasad emphasized that the misuse of personality through AI technologies, including deepfakes, constitutes an infringement of Personality Rights and Publicity Rights. He granted Chadha the right to seek the removal and disabling of infringing content. The court directed immediate actions against intermediaries involved, including Meta Platforms, Inc., to take down the defamatory content and disclose the identities of those responsible.
The court also addressed several critical aspects of the Information Technology Act, 2000, and the Intermediary Guidelines, 2021, directing compliance with applicable laws. The defendants have been ordered to file written statements and disclose information about individuals involved in the creation and distribution of the infringing content.
Furthermore, Chadha sought damages amounting to INR 2,00,10,000 for the loss of reputation due to the defamatory AI-generated content. The court has reserved judgment regarding interim relief arguments on certain documents, with further proceedings scheduled for August 3, 2026.
This case highlights the evolving intersection of technology and law, setting a precedent for handling personality rights infringements in the digital age. Legal experts view this as a landmark judgment that could shape future legal frameworks for digital content and AI technologies.
Bottom Line:
Personality Rights and Publicity Rights - A suit filed for permanent injunction against unauthorized use of the Plaintiff's personality attributes, including name, likeness, image, voice, and AI-generated content (e.g., deepfakes) aimed at maligning reputation.
Statutory provision(s): Information Technology Act, 2000, Intermediary Guidelines, 2021, Delhi High Court (Original Side) Rules, 2018.
Raghav Chadha v. Ashok Kumar John Doe, (Delhi) : Law Finder Doc id # 2905820
