Bombay HC Orders Takedown of Samantha Ruth Prabhu AI Deepfakes

The Bombay High Court on Thursday ordered platforms and unidentified operators to take down AI-generated deepfakes and other unauthorized uses of actor Samantha Ruth Prabhu’s name, image, and voice, India Today and LiveLaw reported.

Justice Madhav Jamdar granted ad-interim relief in a personality-rights suit that targets John Doe defendants alongside technology platforms, AI developers, digital media firms, and e-commerce entities. India Today recounts that the court found a prima facie violation of Prabhu’s personality and publicity rights through non-consensual deepfakes and morphed material, and restrained further unauthorized use of her name, image, and voice.

LiveLaw’s courtroom report says counsel Rashmin Khandekar flagged websites, social platforms, AI chatbots, and other entities circulating photos, deepfake videos, morphed images, and related clips without consent. Justice Jamdar linked the claim to personality and privacy protections under Articles 19(1)(a) and 21 of the Constitution and to performers’ moral rights under the Copyright Act, calling the interim case strong enough for immediate relief.

According to India Today, the suit involves 18 defendants and seeks permanent injunctions, content takedowns, a John Doe order covering unidentified infringers, and damages. The actor invoked Section 62 of the Copyright Act for jurisdiction and Section 38B for performers’ moral rights; she received leave under Clause XII of the Letters Patent on Aug. 28 so the Bombay bench could hear aspects reaching outside ordinary territorial limits.

LiveLaw adds that Justice Jamdar reminded intermediaries such as Google and Meta of due-diligence duties under Rule 3 of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, while directing pull-downs of flagged objectionable content. India Today notes the matter is listed for further hearing on Dec. 10.

Verified as of Oct. 1 reports for readers following rights stories on Daily News: Bombay High Court issued interim takedown and restraint orders on unauthorized AI deepfakes and related misuse of Prabhu’s identity; platforms and John Doe defendants were directed to remove flagged material; no final damages award was decided in the cited coverage.