New Delhi, March 25: The Delhi High Court announced on Wednesday that it will issue directives to social media platforms and e-commerce sites to remove online content that uses the name and images of former Indian cricketer and current head coach Gautam Gambhir without his permission.
Justice Jyoti Singh’s single-judge bench stated that platforms such as Meta and Google would be instructed to remove objectionable links identified by Gambhir and disclose the identities of the entities uploading such content.
The court has also granted protection to Gambhir’s personality and publicity rights, ordering the removal of objectionable posts and content being circulated online without his consent. During the hearing, Gambhir argued that his name, voice, and images were being misused for commercial purposes without authorization, including the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools and deepfake technology.
The Delhi High Court directed e-commerce platforms like Meta, Google, and Amazon to remove objectionable URLs and online posts that misuse Gambhir’s identity. Justice Singh indicated that a comprehensive order would be issued, which would include instructions for providing basic subscriber information (BSI) about the entities behind such content.
This development follows a petition filed by Gambhir in the commercial division of the Delhi High Court, where he accused a “systematic campaign” of digitally adopting someone else’s identity, involving AI-enabled face-swapping and voice-cloning tools.
Gambhir contended that there has been a rapid increase in such content on platforms like Instagram, X, YouTube, and Facebook, including viral deepfake videos falsely attributed to him, which have garnered significant public attention. The petition seeks a permanent injunction against all defendants from using his name, image, voice, or personality without consent, along with a demand for ₹2.5 crore in damages and the removal of infringing content.
Gambhir’s case adds to the growing list of high-profile individuals who have cited their personality and publicity rights in the Delhi High Court.
Prior to Gambhir, former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar, spiritual leader and founder of ‘Art of Living’ Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, actors Nagarjuna, Kajol, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, and Abhishek Bachchan, singer Jubin Nautiyal, filmmaker Karan Johar, and podcaster Raj Shamani have all sought court protection against unauthorized use of their identity, appearance, or AI-generated imitations.
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My name is Bhupendra Singh Chundawat. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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