Mumbai, August 5: The Bombay High Court on Wednesday directed the removal of defamatory social media posts and AI generated deepfake content that falsely linked Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and his family members to the Central government’s E20 ethanol blending programme.
The order came while hearing a civil suit filed by Gadkari against major technology platforms, including Meta, X and Google YouTube, along with unidentified content creators accused of publishing and circulating the disputed material.
According to the petition, manipulated videos, deepfakes and misleading social media posts falsely claimed that Gadkari and his family had benefited financially from the Ethanol Policy.
Bombay HC Acts on Ethanol Policy Deepfake Claims
Gadkari informed the court that the content was fabricated and intended to damage his reputation by spreading false information.
He clarified that the Ethanol Blending Programme, including E20 petrol, falls under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and has no connection with the ministry headed by him.
The petition argued that linking him or his family to the policy for personal gain was factually incorrect and defamatory.
Gadkari sought immediate removal of the disputed content from digital platforms. He also sought Rs 11 crore in damages for the alleged reputational harm caused by the false material.
The petition further highlighted concerns over the misuse of artificial intelligence to create deepfakes and spread misinformation. It argued that digital intermediaries should act promptly against demonstrably false and defamatory content while protecting legitimate public discourse.
The High Court’s order is seen as a significant step in addressing the spread of AI generated misinformation involving public figures. The civil suit will continue on the remaining issues raised by the petitioner.
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