Shruti Haasan Takes Legal Action in Bombay High Court Over AI Deepfakes and Identity Misuse
Actor Shruti Haasan has taken a significant step to protect her identity and publicity rights by approaching the Bombay High Court. She alleges that her persona has been misused through AI-generated content, deepfake videos, fake endorsements, and unauthorized merchandise. The legal action aims to address the widespread infringement of her rights by various entities and individuals.
Legal Action Against Multiple Defendants
In her commercial suit, Haasan has named several Indian and international entities, social media platforms, and unidentified individuals, referred to as John Doe defendants. These parties are accused of facilitating or hosting content that infringes upon her rights. Justice Abhay Ahuja has granted Haasan permission under Clause XII of the Letters Patent to file the suit, allowing the court to hear the matter despite jurisdictional limitations. The case is expected to be mentioned before Justice Madhav Jamdar for interim relief.
Allegations of AI Misuse and Explicit Content
Haasan’s plea details serious allegations regarding the unauthorized use of her name, image, and likeness. She claims that her identity has been exploited to create AI-generated and morphed content, including videos that falsely depict her in romantic relationships with other actors. The suit also highlights concerns over fake revealing photographs and sexually explicit videos allegedly created using generative AI and deepfake technology. According to the plea, “The entities are using AI and deepfake technology by morphing/superimposing Haasan’s face to create distasteful and sexually explicit videos and images.”
In light of these allegations, Haasan is seeking an injunction to restrain the unauthorized use of her identity and personality attributes. She argues that such content violates her personality, publicity, and moral rights.
Defendants Include Major Social Media Platforms
Among the defendants listed in the suit is Mahalaxmi Arts and Craft Works, accused of selling posters featuring Haasan’s name and image on Flipkart without authorization. The suit also names several celebrity booking and endorsement platforms, fashion and jewelry businesses, as well as major social media companies, including Google-owned YouTube, Meta’s Facebook and Instagram, X Corp, and Pinterest. Haasan alleges that these platforms host or facilitate content that infringes her rights and has sought directions for the removal of such material.
Seeking Permanent Injunction and Damages
The suit emphasizes that Shruti Haasan’s work across Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and English cinema, along with her music and brand endorsements, has given her name significant commercial value and distinctiveness. It argues that her identity is exclusively linked to her public persona, and any unauthorized commercial exploitation constitutes infringement.
In addition to seeking the removal of the allegedly infringing content, Haasan has requested permanent injunctions, a John Doe order against unidentified infringers, damages, and an account of profits earned through the unauthorized use of her name, image, and other identifiable attributes.
Observer Voice is the one stop site for National, International news, Sports, Editor’s Choice, Art/culture contents, Quotes and much more. We also cover historical contents. Historical contents includes World History, Indian History, and what happened today. The website also covers Entertainment across the India and World.
