Prominent figures such as Congress MP Shashi Tharoor and Bollywood star Salman Khan are increasingly seeking legal protections for their personality rights amid growing incidents of AI-generated deepfake videos and digital impersonations. Shashi Tharoor, for example, has moved the Delhi High Court to seek interim orders removing deepfake videos falsely showing him making controversial statements, including praising Pakistan, which he never made. These manipulated videos have damaged his public image and political standing. The court has already summoned major social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Meta, and has involved the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology to curb this misuse.
This legal push highlights a broader concern among celebrities and public figures regarding the misuse of their likeness and digital presence in fake content fueled by advances in AI and deepfake technologies. Such videos often spread misinformation, harm reputations, and create confusion among the public. Bollywood celebrities like Salman Khan are also reported to be taking similar precautions to protect their personality rights against unauthorized AI-based replication.
The situation reflects how rapid AI progress poses new challenges to privacy and personal rights, prompting the need for updated legal frameworks and proactive court interventions. It underscores the importance of protecting individuals’ digital identities from manipulation and unauthorized commercial or political misuse in an era when deepfake creation has become more accessible and convincing.
