In a significant ruling addressing the misuse of artificial intelligence, the Bombay High Court has issued a stern directive for the immediate removal of morphed images, videos, and other AI-generated content featuring actor Shilpa Shetty. The court, on Friday, December 26, 2025, termed the material on record as "prima facie extremely disturbing" and a direct attack on her fundamental rights.
Court's Strong Stance on Privacy and Dignity
A vacation bench presided over by Justice Advait M Sethna ordered several social media platforms, AI-linked entities, and all unknown persons to forthwith delete and pull down links, posts, URLs, and websites hosting the manipulated content. The court emphasized that no person, especially a woman, can be portrayed in a manner that violates her fundamental right to privacy without her knowledge and consent.
The order was passed on an interim application filed by Shetty as part of a larger commercial intellectual property rights suit. She alleged that AI tools were used to clone her voice and mannerisms to create not just deepfake videos and images, but also unauthorized books and merchandise. She argued that such material exposed her to "unsavoury humour and ridicule" and sought damages of Rs 5 lakh against some defendants.
The Core of Shetty's Legal Argument
Advocate Sana Raees Khan, representing Shetty, highlighted her client's stature as a Bollywood actor with over 50 films, a TV personality, and a fitness influencer with a massive social media following. Khan contended that the defendants were commercially exploiting Shetty's persona, using her photographs to sell products like sarees without authorization, and invoked Section 38B of the Copyright Act concerning personality rights.
Justice Sethna, however, noted that the intricate legal question of whether personality rights are enforceable under the Copyright Act would be decided by the regular court. The vacation bench's immediate concern was the protection of Shetty's rights under Article 21 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to life, privacy, and dignity.
Immediate Actions and Broader Implications
The judge stated that for the interim, he would proceed on the basis that Shetty is a "credible actress" and such shocking material cannot be broadcast without her consent. The court found the tendered pictures to be "inappropriate and unacceptable" and stated their portrayal would tarnish her reputation.
Consequently, the High Court issued the following directives:
- All defendants must immediately delete the offending URLs from their platforms.
- The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is directed to pull down all links, posts, and websites that unlawfully infringe on Shetty's privacy rights.
This interim order sets a crucial precedent in India's evolving legal landscape, highlighting the judiciary's readiness to intervene against the non-consensual and malicious use of AI technology to target individuals, particularly women in the public eye. The final adjudication on the nuances of personality rights in the digital age is now awaited from the regular bench.
