India's court protects Tabu’s personality rights from AI Deepfakes and unauthorized use

Highlights

• Court grants Tabu interim protection over her personality and publicity rights.
• AI-generated, deepfake, morphed, and manipulated content included in the order.
• Google, Meta, X, Reddit, and eBay directed to remove identified URLs.
• Platforms asked to share subscriber information and IP log details.
• Order remains in force until the next hearing in December 2026.

The Delhi High Court has granted interim relief to Bollywood actor Tabu, protecting her personality rights against the alleged unauthorized use of her identity across digital platforms. The order restrains individuals and entities from using her name, image, voice, photographs, film stills, signatures, and other identifiable attributes without her consent.

Justice Jyoti Singh passed the ex-parte ad-interim injunction while hearing a commercial suit filed by the actor, whose real name is Tabassum Jamal Hashmi. The court held that she had established a prima facie case and that continued circulation of the disputed material could cause irreparable harm to her reputation, goodwill, privacy, and commercial value.

The order is significant because it explicitly extends protection to content created or manipulated using artificial intelligence, generative AI, machine learning, deepfakes, face morphing, GIFs, and similar technologies. The court also clarified that the restraint applies not only to websites and social media platforms but also to mobile applications, virtual environments, and other digital mediums.

What the court has ordered

The High Court directed several major technology companies to remove or disable access to identified URLs carrying allegedly unauthorized content involving Tabu.

According to the order:

• Google LLC must remove or disable multiple sets of URLs within 36 hours of receiving the order.
• Meta Platforms Inc. has been directed to act against more than 100 identified URLs across different documents within the same time frame.
• X Corp. must remove specified URLs.
• Reddit has also been directed to remove identified content.
• eBay Inc. has been asked to take down URLs linked to allegedly unauthorized merchandise listings.

Taken together, the directions cover more than 150 identified URLs across these platforms.

In addition to takedowns, the court instructed Google, Meta, X, Reddit, and GoDaddy, wherever applicable, to provide Basic Subscriber Information and IP log details associated with the accounts and content in question. This information could assist Tabu in identifying individuals allegedly responsible for publishing or circulating the disputed material.

Why Tabu approached the court

A major concern raised by the actor was the alleged circulation of AI-generated obscene and manipulated content using her identity. According to her plaint, clips from films, interviews, and public appearances were allegedly edited, slowed down, zoomed in, or otherwise altered to emphasize intimate portions before being circulated online for views and advertising revenue.

The court observed that deliberate manipulation of such material for monetary gain could seriously damage a public figure’s reputation and commercial standing.

Tabu also alleged that fake social media accounts were being used to offer bookings for her appearances and performances. She informed the court that she had no connection with one such Instagram account and had not authorized anyone to solicit bookings on her behalf. The account allegedly used her photographs and videos in a manner that could create a misleading impression of association.

Another issue before the court involved a publication that carried a statement allegedly attributed to Tabu. The actor denied ever making the statement and said her team had already issued clarifications. The court described the continued publication of the statement despite the denial as an “egregious act” and directed the publisher to delete the material from all its platforms within three days of receiving the order.

What this means for celebrity personality rights

The court emphasized that personality rights are not limited to financial interests. Unauthorized use of a celebrity’s identity can affect privacy, dignity, autonomy, and the right to control one’s persona.

The order refers to earlier Delhi High Court decisions that recognized personality rights in matters involving celebrities such as Anil Kapoor and Jackie Shroff. The court reiterated that third parties cannot commercially exploit a famous person’s identity without permission and profit from the goodwill attached to that identity.

Tabu had also alleged that websites were selling merchandise bearing her photographs, including mugs, posters, calendars, hoodies, and sweatshirts, without authorization. The court noted that such products may falsely suggest endorsement or association.

The case has now been registered as a commercial suit. The remaining defendants have been given 30 days from receipt of summons to file their written statements. Issues relating to discovery and production of documents are also being considered, and the matter has been listed for December 7, 2026.

Importantly, the present order is an interim measure, not a final ruling on the allegations. However, it marks one of the clearest judicial responses yet to the growing misuse of celebrity identities through AI-generated and manipulated digital content in India.