The Delhi High Court has protected journalist Sudhir Chaudhary’s personality rights, ordering the removal of AI-generated and deepfake content from social media. Uploaders have 48 hours to comply, failing which Google and Meta will act.
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Friday issued strong orders to safeguard the personality rights of journalist and Doordarshan anchor Sudhir Chaudhary. The Court emphasized that Chaudhary’s name, voice, image, and likeness must be protected from misuse.
Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora passed the orders directing the removal of AI-generated and deepfake content that has been circulating on social media platforms, including YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook, operated by Meta Platforms.
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The Court said,
“The way I will draft the order is that they (Chaudhary) will first write to them (uploaders) and mark it to you. They (uploaders) will have 48 hours to remove it (content infringing on Chaudhary’s personality rights). If they (uploaders) don’t take it down, then you (Google and Meta) will take action,”
Senior Advocate Rajshekhar Rao, representing Sudhir Chaudhary, argued before the Court that the journalist’s voice and likeness were being misused for commercial purposes without his consent. He pointed out multiple social media accounts infringing Chaudhary’s personality rights.
Rao told the Court,
“All these are videos that are AI-generated. All of these are unauthorised…I have not made any of these statements,”
He further stressed that AI technology is being exploited, with some channels even charging money while using Chaudhary’s voice.
Senior Advocate Rajshekhar Rao informed the Court,
“All these are videos that are AI-generated. All of these are unauthorised…I have not made any of these statements.”
The Court also asked about the service of notice to the defendants.
The Court questioned.
“Have you served the defendants? You can’t serve these channels?”
Sr Adv Rao replied,
“We will, but in the meantime, the damage may already be done.”
The High Court decided to take up the matter again later in the day.
Further updates from the plaintiff revealed additional infringing links.
LawChakra reported,
“The plaintiff informed the Court that, in addition to the links mentioned in the suit, he has identified further infringing links showing deepfake videos on Defendant No. 2’s platform. The plaintiff will e-file these additional links and requested that the injunction relief granted today be extended to cover them. The links were also identified on the social media handles of Defendants 3–15, who are already parties to the suit,”
During the proceedings, counsel for Google suggested that the takedown order should be directed at the uploaders.
The Court clarified,
“Chaudhary will first notify the uploaders and copy Google. Uploaders have 48 hours to remove the content. If they fail, Google and Meta Platforms will remove it.”
Finally, the Court directed,
“The Court orders that all infringing content be taken down within 48 hours and will protect Sudhir Chaudhary’s name, voice, image, and likeness.”
The matter has now concluded with strict instructions to social media platforms and content uploaders to comply immediately, ensuring protection of Sudhir Chaudhary’s personality rights.
Read Live Coverage:
Case Title:
MR SUDHIR CHAUDHARY V/s META PLATFORMS INC & ORS.
CS(COMM)- 1089/2025
Click Here to Read Previous Reports on Sudhir Chaudhary
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