Delhi High Court Bars Meta From Hosting Deepfakes of Kangana Ranaut, Orders 72‑Hour Take‑Down

In a move that many are calling a landmark for digital privacy in India, the Delhi High Court on October 8 handed down an interim order that effectively tells Meta Platforms to pull down every AI‑generated deepfake and fabricated video featuring actress‑turned‑MP Kangana Ranaut – and to do it fast, within 72 hours of receiving the court’s notice.

Justice Vikas Mahajan, who penned the judgment, made it clear that the actress’s “personality rights” extend far beyond a simple photograph or quote. They cover her name, image, voice, even the very way her likeness might be morphed or stitched together by computer algorithms. The court noted that the alleged content ranged from harmless‑looking reels to outright obscene or pornographic material that, according to the plaintiff, was produced without her consent.

Ranaut, who has spent more than twenty years in Bollywood and now serves as a BJP MP from Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, filed the suit after noticing a spate of manipulated clips circulating on social media. Some of these clips showed her apparently endorsing products she never touched; others featured her delivering speeches she never gave. Her counsel, senior advocate Saket Sikri, argued that such fabrications not only dented her reputation but also violated her right to dignity and identity.

The court’s order is fairly sweeping. It restrains not just the specific accounts identified in the plaintiff’s annexure but also any “John Doe”‑type users who might try to create, publish, or host similar AI‑generated material in the future. Moreover, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and the Department of Telecommunications have been tasked with telling internet and telecom service providers to block access to the offending websites – again, within the same 72‑hour window.

Both Meta and the two government departments have been asked to file compliance affidavits in two weeks, essentially proving that they have acted on the order. The judge also left the door open for Ranaut to point out additional infringing URLs or pages that surface later, without needing to start a fresh lawsuit each time.

Legal experts are watching closely. This could set a precedent for how Indian courts handle deepfakes, especially when they involve public figures. While the order is interim – meaning it’s a temporary protection until a full hearing – it sends a strong signal that the judiciary is willing to grapple with the messy realities of AI‑driven misinformation.

For now, anyone scrolling through Meta’s platforms in India should expect to see a few more “content removed” notices appear, as the tech giant scrambles to comply. Whether this will be enough to curb the ever‑growing tide of synthetic media remains to be seen, but it’s certainly a step toward giving individuals a bit more control over their digital shadows.