The Delhi High Court has stepped in to protect Indian batter Abhishek Sharma after he expressed concerns over the misuse of his identity on social media and online platforms. Sharma approached the court alleging that several individuals and entities had circulated AI-generated images, misleading posts and defamatory content that harmed his reputation. The case highlights the growing challenge posed by artificial intelligence and fake online content, particularly for public figures whose identities can be manipulated with ease.
During Thursday’s hearing, the court observed the material placed on record and indicated that it would order the removal of the disputed content while issuing notices to the accused individuals. The matter also drew attention to the increasing misuse of celebrity images across social media and e-commerce websites.
With concerns surrounding personality rights becoming more prominent in the digital era, the case could have wider implications for protecting public figures from unauthorised and misleading online content.
What did the court say?
Justice Jyoti Singh directed that the offensive online material identified by Sharma be taken down at this stage of the proceedings. The court observed that it would restrain the defendants from continuing to publish or circulate such content, following the standard approach adopted in similar cases.
The High Court also issued summons and notices to the individuals and entities named in the suit through their social media accounts as well as their registered addresses. The matter has now been scheduled for further hearing on November 17.
During the hearing, Sharma’s counsel informed the court that several disputed URLs had already been removed after compliance with an earlier order. Counsel appearing for Meta Platforms stated that only two Instagram links remained active on its platforms and assured the court that they would also be taken down soon.
Why did Abhishek Sharma lodge a complaint?
Sharma moved the High Court seeking protection of his personality rights and requested the removal of AI-generated and defamatory content that allegedly portrayed him in a false manner.
According to his legal team, several social media posts used manipulated images and misleading captions to create false narratives. One such AI-generated post allegedly showed Sharma alongside his manager while falsely identifying her as his girlfriend, creating an inaccurate impression to spark controversy.
His counsel further argued that some of the remaining content was obscene. Apart from social media posts, Sharma also highlighted that unauthorised listings using his identity continued to appear on prominent e-commerce platforms, including Amazon and Flipkart. The court found the disputed Facebook and Instagram posts along with the URLs submitted as part of the lawsuit before directing further action.
