Delhi HC Directs Google, Meta, Amazon to Take Down Gautam Gambhir Deepfake Posts
Court directs tech platforms to take down objectionable posts misusing former cricketer’s identity and AI-generated content
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has directed major technology platforms, including Google, Meta, and Amazon, to remove online content that allegedly exploits the name and likeness of former India cricketer and current head coach Gautam Gambhir for commercial purposes.
A single judge bench led by Justice Jyoti Singh instructed the platforms to take down flagged links and posts and to provide details of the entities responsible for uploading such content. The order also reinforces protection of Gambhir’s personality and publicity rights, ensuring no objectionable content circulates without his consent.
Gambhir’s plea, filed in the Commercial Division of the Delhi High Court, alleges a “coordinated campaign of digital impersonation” using artificial intelligence (AI) tools, including face-swapping and voice-cloning technologies. The petition claims that these deepfake videos and unauthorised commercial content misrepresent his identity and have been disseminated widely across platforms such as Instagram, X, YouTube, and Facebook.
The court’s directions require the removal of infringing URLs and submission of Basic Subscriber Information (BSI) of the individuals responsible for posting the content. The plea also seeks a permanent injunction preventing the use of Gambhir’s name, image, voice, or persona without authorisation, along with damages of ₹2.5 crore.
This case adds to a growing list of high-profile figures invoking their publicity rights in Delhi courts, including Sunil Gavaskar, Kajol, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, and Jubin Nautiyal, who have recently secured judicial protection against AI-generated impersonations and unauthorised use of their identity.
