Bombay High Court Orders Removal of Defamatory AI Videos Linking Gadkari

The Bombay High Court on Wednesday ordered social media platforms to take down AI-generated deepfake videos that linked Union Minister Nitin Gadkari to a controversy over the government's ethanol-blending programme. Justice Arif Doctor ruled that the material cited by Gadkari in his civil suit was 'per se defamatory' and directed the removal of the posts. The case stems from a suit filed by Gadkari against technology firms Meta, Google, and X, which was allowed by Justice Abhay Ahuja on July 27. The Union government has mandated that all petrol sold in India be blended with 20% ethanol, a policy that has sparked debate. The court's order highlights growing legal scrutiny of AI-generated content and platform accountability in India. The platforms are expected to comply with the court's directive to remove the offending videos.

Global Impact

The court's decision underscores a global trend toward regulating AI-generated misinformation, with India joining jurisdictions like the EU in holding platforms accountable for deepfakes. Politically, it protects a senior government minister, reinforcing the ruling party's stance on digital content control.