Kangana moves Delhi High Court seeking removal of AI-generated obscene content
Photo: Collected
Bollywood actress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) member of parliament Kangana Ranaut has approached the Delhi High Court. Her demand is that obscene and objectionable content made with artificial intelligence or AI must be removed from the internet. In taking this legal step, she stated that the distorted information, fake news and obscene material created on online platforms using her image and voice are violating her personality rights and also defaming her.
After concluding the hearing on the petition of this lawmaker from the Mandi seat in Himachal Pradesh, the court has issued summons against the accused parties.
The case was heard on Thursday at the single bench of Justice Vikas Mahajan. Kangana Ranaut’s lawyers told the court that countless sexually provocative materials, pornographic content and fake comments made with AI technology are being spread online about the actress, which is seriously damaging her image. However, her legal team has clearly told the court that they want legal action only against obscene, fake and harmful materials; they are not at this moment seeking any injunction against ordinary trolls or memes made about her on the internet.
After the detailed hearing of the case, the Delhi High Court sent summons to the defendant parties; it also indicated that an interim order on the matter would be issued soon. On the same day, a similar case filed by popular Telugu actor Vijay Deverakonda for protection of personality rights was also heard. Vijay’s lawyers alleged that merchandise is being sold by using his name, image and attributes on online platforms without permission, and that commercial gain is being made by creating fake posts with AI. The court has issued summons in his case too, and has also conveyed its decision to pass an interim order.
Kangana Ranaut is not the first among the stars who have recently gone to court for protection against AI-related distortion and of personal interests. Earlier too, several high-profile individuals had approached the High Court to protect their personality and publicity rights. Notable among them are Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, Salman Khan and Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and actor Pawan Kalyan. Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, popular podcaster Raj Shamani and cricketer Abhishek Sharma had also sought the court’s shelter to protect their personality rights; the High Court had granted each of them interim relief.
Source: Hindustan Times
