The High Court of Bombay on Friday found AI-generated images of actress Shilpa Shetty being published on some websites to be "extremely distressing" and unjustifiable. Terming the act as "reprehensible and condemnable," the court observed that no person, especially a woman, can be portrayed in such a manner, as it infringes upon her fundamental right to privacy.
Shilpa Shetty had reportedly approached the High Court claiming that AI-generated deepfake images related to her were being circulated across various websites and social media platforms. This content was obscene in nature, with some of it being as recent as two days old, necessitating urgent judicial intervention, her petition said. After analysing the images submitted by the actress, the court granted her relief and directed all respondents in the case to immediately remove the photographs and videos concerned from their respective platforms.
Marathi media reports claimed that the court observed that the petitioner has a fundamental right to privacy and to live with dignity, which cannot be compromised under any circumstances. The judiciary cannot tolerate such acts, the court reportedly added.
Call for urgent intervention
According to the High Court, the fabricated content was extremely shocking and distressing, Loksatta said in a report. It was a single-judge bench of Justice Advait Sethna that observed the infringement of her privacy, dignity, and moral rights under intellectual property law.
The bench clarified that it was not deciding the broader issue of personality rights under intellectual property law at this stage; rather, that matter would remain open for determination by the regular court.
