Telugu film star Naga Chaitanya has approached the Delhi High Court seeking protection of his personality rights against deepfakes, AI-generated content, and unauthorized merchandise. On Friday, his legal team informed the court that numerous websites and social media pages were misusing his image in harmful and objectionable ways.
Complaint About AI Videos
Senior advocate Vaibhav Gaggar, representing Naga Chaitanya, told the court that many AI-generated videos and deepfake clips depicted the actor in inappropriate situations. He further stated that some videos falsely linked the actor with his former wife, spreading claims that he had cheated on her and ruined her career.
“This is trolling, this is not fair criticism,” Gaggar argued before the court. The actor also alleged that several pornographic websites had used his name in domain names, tags, and search results, creating a false association between him and obscene content online.
Justice Jyoti Singh, who presided over the hearing, also considered the actor’s request for a dynamic injunction. The actor’s team argued that new fake and harmful content appears online daily, necessitating robust protection to swiftly curb future misuse.
Actor’s Team Says Reputation Is Being Harmed
The actor’s team claimed that his public image and commercial value were being damaged due to fake videos, voice-cloned clips, and manipulated content shared online for views and financial gain. The case also noted that several legal notices had been sent to platforms and intermediaries, but many either did not respond adequately or removed only a portion of the objectionable content.
YouTube Responds in Court
During the hearing, the court observed that while public figures may face greater public scrutiny, there should still be limits. “You are in public life, you are certainly more vulnerable than the rest of the people, but it has its limitations,” the court remarked.
Lawyers representing YouTube informed the court that some AI-generated videos mentioned by the actor had already been removed. However, they also noted that a few links pertained to news reports, where different legal standards might apply.
After hearing all parties, the Delhi High Court issued summons in the case and indicated that it would pass an interim order to protect the actor’s personality rights while the matter proceeds. The next hearing is scheduled for September 30.
Disclaimer: This report is a journalistic account of a recent court development. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy based on available information, this is not a substitute for the official court order or legal advice. The final ruling, which will be published by the court, is the definitive source of information. This article serves as a report on the current status of the case and should not be considered legal guidance.
