The Delhi High Court has passed a significant interim order to protect the personality rights of spiritual preacher Aniruddhacharya Maharaj. Justice Tushar Rao Gedela issued an ex-parte ad-interim injunction restraining digital platforms and unknown entities from unauthorized use of the preacher’s identity. This order comes in response to the rising spread of AI-generated content, deepfakes, and disrespectful memes that target his image and voice on social media.
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What are the main restrictions imposed by the Delhi High Court?
The court has prohibited the use of Aniruddhacharya’s name, voice, image, or likeness without his prior consent. This order specifically mentions that the creation and dissemination of any material that misrepresents or impersonates him is strictly forbidden. The judge noted that the content being circulated was not just light-hearted parody but was infringing upon his personality rights and reputation. Major digital intermediaries have been given clear instructions to act against such content.
- Meta, X, and Google must remove or disable access to the infringing links identified in the case.
- The order applies to ‘John Doe’ defendants, meaning unknown individuals are also legally bound by this stay.
- Content created using AI technology or deepfake tools to mimic the preacher is now banned.
- Aniruddhacharya has the freedom to report new violating links for immediate removal without filing new cases.
Why did the court intervene in this personality rights case?
The court observed that while religious figures are often subject to public discussion, the unauthorized exploitation of their personality for disrespectful content cannot be ignored. Justice Gedela emphasized that the preacher has a strong case and could face irreparable damage if his rights are not protected. The ruling is rooted in the right to privacy and freedom of expression under Articles 21 and 19 of the Constitution. The next hearing for this matter is scheduled for September 23.
