Bombay High Court Orders Takedown of Content Violating Shruti Haasan's Personality Rights
The Bombay High Court has directed social media platforms to remove objectionable content concerning actor Shruti Haasan, establishing a strong prima facie case for her personality rights. The suit seeks Rs 15 crore in damages for unauthorized use of her identity.
The Bombay High Court has issued an interim order compelling social media platforms to remove objectionable content featuring actor Shruti Haasan. The court found that Haasan had made out a "very strong prima facie" case for the protection of her personality rights.
The lawsuit, filed by Haasan, seeks Rs 15 crore (approximately $1.8 million USD) in damages. The actor alleges unauthorized use of her name, image, likeness, and voice, citing the creation of unauthorized merchandise, AI-generated deepfakes, and sexually explicit content.
Haasan has sued 18 defendants, including social media and e-commerce platforms, AI chatbot providers, and celebrity booking platforms. The case also involves allegations of infringement of her performers' moral rights under the Copyright Act.
This ruling highlights a growing trend of legal action in India to protect the personality rights of public figures, particularly in the face of advancing AI technologies capable of creating deepfakes and synthetic media. Numerous celebrities have pursued similar legal avenues to prevent the misuse of their identity.