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Orders Takedown of AI Deepfakes and Chatbots Violating Shruti Haasan's
The
has granted sweeping interim relief to actor-musician Shruti Haasan, ordering the immediate takedown of AI-generated deepfakes, manipulated photographs, impersonating chatbots, and unauthorized merchandise that exploited her
without consent. Justice Madhav J. Jamdar, presiding over the commercial division, found that the material placed before the court made out
"a very strong
"
for protection.
The Unauthorised Digital Impersonation
Haasan approached the court after discovering a vast array of infringing content across multiple online platforms. The suit, filed against 18 defendants, targeted entities ranging from AI chatbot services like and , which hosted profiles purporting to be Haasan, to e-commerce sites selling unlicensed merchandise bearing her name and image. Social media platforms including YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Pinterest were also impleaded as hosting or disseminating the offending material.
Notably, the court was informed that some content, including deepfake pornographic images, was placed before it in a sealed envelope, underscoring the deeply invasive nature of the violations. The suit also named proforma defendants—the and the —to facilitate enforcement of any blocking orders.
Constitutional Backing for
Haasan’s counsel, , argued that the infringements violated her personality and , which are protected under (freedom of speech and expression) and (right to life and personal liberty, including privacy) of the Constitution. The court agreed, observing that the right to life includes the right to live with dignity, and that the unauthorized creation of morphed and deepfake content directly undermined these fundamental guarantees.
The judgment specifically noted that Haasan's rights also encompass under , as well as common law rights against , , and . The court drew heavily from its earlier order in , passed on , which established similar protections.
Court's Reasoning on
Justice Jamdar emphasized that the harm caused by AI-generated deepfakes is uniquely irreparable.
"Such injury cannot be adequately compensated by monetary damages alone,"
the court observed,
"as once deepfake content is disseminated across the internet, it is capable of unlimited replication and circulation, resulting in permanent dilution of the Plaintiff's
and public image."
This reasoning underscored the inadequacy of traditional remedies in the digital age, where content can spread globally within minutes. The court noted that Haasan, a prominent figure with millions of followers across Instagram, X, and Facebook, faced not only reputational damage but also commercial exploitation through fake endorsements and counterfeit merchandise.
What the Order Directs
The restrains defendants from using or exploiting any of Haasan's indicia—including her name, voice, image, likeness, signature, and mannerisms—without her consent. The order specifically covers the use of artificial intelligence or any other technology to create such content.
All defendants are directed to take down the infringing listings, pages, and content identified in the plaint's exhibits. are further required to disable access to similar infringing material upon receiving written notice from Haasan or her authorized representative. However, if an intermediary believes a notified link contains genuine material, it may communicate its objection to Haasan's counsel, who can then approach the court for further directions.
Additionally, has been ordered to disclose the basic subscriber information of YouTube channels listed in the suit. The court also granted Haasan the right to seek similar information from other to identify and implead anonymous infringers.
Some defendants, including those operating the platform, voluntarily removed the offending links after being served, a fact noted by the court. The remaining defendants have been given six weeks to file their replies, with the matter next listed on . The ad-interim relief will continue until further orders.
