TV
The Delhi High Court has come to the aid of Bollywood icon Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, after she raised alarm over morphed and AI-generated images of her circulating online. On Tuesday, the court said it will pass injunction orders to safeguard the actor’s personality rights against misuse.
Aishwarya’s Complaint
Appearing before Justice Tejas Karia, Senior Advocate Sandeep Sethi argued that Aishwarya Rai’s identity was being exploited without her consent. Her likeness, he said, had been used on merchandise such as coffee mugs, while AI-generated intimate images and fake pornographic content featuring her face had surfaced online.
“I am enforcing my publicity and personality rights,” Sethi said, calling the exploitation of the actor’s image “very unfortunate.”
What Are Personality Rights?
Personality rights, also called the right of publicity, allow individuals to control how their image, name, or likeness is commercially or publicly used. These rights are especially crucial for celebrities, whose persona holds significant commercial and social value. Misuse can range from unauthorised endorsements to deepfake pornography, which can damage reputation and dignity.
Court Orders Takedown
During the hearing, Google’s counsel referred to a past case involving the film Andaz Apna Apna, where objectionable links were taken down. The court noted that 151 flagged URLs would now form part of its order, directing their removal. Justice Karia also stated that injunctions would be issued separately against each defendant.
The matter is scheduled for its next hearing on January 15, 2026. For now, the court’s strong stand underscores the growing importance of personality rights in the digital age, especially at a time when AI-generated content and online exploitation are on the rise.
