Delhi High Court orders X to disclose user data in Raghav Chadha case

The Delhi High Court has refused to grant a blanket protection for the personality rights of Member of Parliament Raghav Chadha or order the removal of all content he flagged. Instead, the court has directed X, formerly Twitter, to provide subscriber information and IP logs for six accounts that posted content concerning Chadha within two weeks.

The order is significant as it compels the platform to identify users behind anonymous accounts. An IP address can reveal a user's approximate location and internet service provider, which can then be used to obtain subscriber details. This removes the shield of anonymity that some users rely on to criticize those in power without fear of reprisal.

The case reflects a broader pattern in India where authorities, particularly the police, have frequently sought and obtained court orders for user data disclosure. While this case involved a civil lawsuit, it establishes a mechanism similar to those previously used in police investigations, such as against critics of the food regulator FSSAI or a news outlet under anti-terror laws.

Chadha had approached the court seeking protection from AI-generated deepfakes, manipulated videos, and fabricated speeches. However, the court characterized the content as political criticism rather than a violation of personality rights, suggesting that as a political leader, he should be able to withstand strong criticism.

While the Delhi High Court has previously granted strong protections in deepfake cases for other public figures, the court distinguished political commentary from commercial misappropriation or sexually explicit content in this instance. The court did emphasize, however, that speech such as news, satire, and parody remains protected.