Bombay High Court orders removal of AI-generated Deepfake content targeting Shilpa Shetty

PTC Web Desk: The Bombay High Court on Friday directed the immediate removal of all online links carrying AI-generated deepfake content involving actor Shilpa Shetty, describing the material as deeply disturbing and morally unacceptable at first glance.

The court’s order followed an urgent plea filed by Shilpa Shetty after explicit, AI-manipulated images allegedly portraying her in a pornographic manner surfaced online. Her legal team informed the court that several of these images had been uploaded only two days earlier, making swift judicial intervention necessary.

Shilpa Shetty had earlier approached the court seeking protection of her personality rights and later requested an urgent hearing focused specifically on the growing threat posed by deepfake technology. Representing the actor, advocate Sana Raees Khan highlighted multiple images circulating across social media platforms that depicted Shilpa Shetty in what she described as an “inappropriate and unacceptable manner.”

After reviewing the submissions, Justice Advait Sethna observed that the visuals presented before the court appeared shocking and raised serious concerns. Khan argued that the circulation of such content amounted to a clear violation of Shetty’s fundamental rights, including her right to privacy and dignity under Article 21 of the Constitution, along with her moral rights under copyright law.

While the High Court clarified that it was not deciding on the broader question of personality rights under the Copyright Act at this stage, it noted that the material placed on record was alarming enough to warrant immediate action.

The court strongly stated that no individual,  particularly a woman, can be portrayed without consent in a manner that infringes upon her right to privacy and dignity. It remarked that such content could not be justified under any circumstances and deserved outright condemnation.

Emphasising its constitutional responsibility, the Bench said it was obligated to safeguard the rights guaranteed under Article 21, which include the right to live with dignity and personal autonomy.

Khan also submitted that Shetty, being a prominent public figure with a strong social media presence, stood to suffer serious reputational harm due to the circulation of such content. Agreeing with this concern, the court said the situation could not be tolerated.

In the interest of justice, the High Court directed all parties concerned to remove the URLs containing the objectionable content from their platforms with immediate effect.