Delhi court orders takedown of AI-doctored content of Sadhguru
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Occurred: March 2025
Page published: June 2025
The Delhi High Court has issued an interim order directing online platforms to remove fake, AI-generated content that misuses the name, image, and personality rights of Indian spiritual leader Sadhguru.
What happened
What happened
AI-generated videos, audios and images circulating online falsely depicted Sadhguru in fabricated scenarios, such as arrest visuals and misleading investment promotions.
The materials exploited Sadhguru’s popularity to promote scams and sell products, potentially leading to financial fraud and reputational harm for both Sadhguru and his followers.
The court also highlighted the risk of such content spreading uncontrollably on social media, undermining public trust and individual dignity.
Why it happened
Why it happened
The misuse of Sadhguru’s identity was driven by rogue websites and unknown entities leveraging advanced AI tools to create and distribute deceptive content for commercial gain.
Sadhguru and the Isha Foundation sought legal protection, arguing that their reputation and the trust of their followers were being exploited for fraudulent purposes.
What it means
What it means
For Sadhguru and the Isha Foundation, the court’s order provides immediate legal protection against unauthorised use of his persona, helping to safeguard his reputation and prevent further exploitation, and reducing the risk of his followers and others falling victim to scams and misinformation.
At a broader societal level, the case underscores the challenges posed by AI-generated deepfakes and the need for strong legal frameworks to protect personality rights in the digital age, balancing the right to reputation with freedom of speech.
Personality rights
Personality rights, sometimes referred to as the right of publicity, are rights for an individual to control the commercial use of their identity, such as name, image, likeness, or other unequivocal identifiers.
Source: Wikipedia 🔗
System 🤖
System 🤖
Unknown
Developer:
Country: India
Sector: Religion
Purpose: Defraud
Technology: Deepfake, Generative AI; Text-to-speech
Issue: Accountability; Autonomy; Human/civil rights
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