Delhi High Court Protects Rajat Sharma, Orders Removal Of Deepfake Content

The Delhi High Court has issued an order safeguarding the personality rights of veteran journalist Rajat Sharma. Justice Amit Bansal restrained eight individuals and entities from misusing Sharma’s name, image, voice, or likeness through artificial intelligence or deepfake technology for personal or commercial purposes without his explicit written consent.

The court's interim injunction came after Sharma alleged that the defendants had disseminated false and misleading information by creating doctored videos using AI technology. These manipulated videos included distorted images, altered voice recordings, and other misrepresentations of Sharma’s personality traits.

Sharma also accused the defendants of unauthorisedly using registered trademarks belonging to INDIA TV, alongside copyrighted footage from his show, Aaj Ki Baat: Rajat Sharma Ke Saath. The misuse of Sharma’s persona, he argued, was being employed to promote fraudulent health claims, posing risks to public health and safety by misleading viewers who relied on the purported endorsements.

Recognising the gravity of the situation, the Court noted, “A prima facie case is made out in favour of the plaintiffs. The balance of convenience also lies in their favour, as irreparable harm would be caused if the defendants continue posting such infringing content.”

The Court directed Meta Platforms Inc. to promptly block or remove the offending content from its platforms. Additionally, it allowed Sharma to approach Meta during the proceedings to report any further fake or infringing material. Meta, upon receiving such complaints, is required to act swiftly and the plaintiff must file an affidavit confirming the action.

This order highlights the legal ramifications of AI misuse in perpetuating disinformation and reinforces the protection of personality rights against evolving technological threats.