Delhi HC shields Aishwarya Rai’s identity from misuse, deepfakes

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The Delhi High Court has ruled in favour of actor Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, granting interim protection of her personality rights against unauthorized use of her name, image, voice, or likeness. The order restrains websites, e-commerce platforms, and unidentified individuals from commercially exploiting her identity without consent.

The case highlighted the growing risk of digital misuse, with the court specifically banning manipulated, obscene, or AI-generated content such as deepfakes and face-morphing. Among the infringing parties were online sellers offering mugs, T-shirts, and merchandise bearing her photographs, as well as platforms where explicit morphed content had circulated.

The court directed major platforms, including Google, to remove flagged links within 72 hours of notice and asked government bodies — including the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and the Department of Telecommunications — to block infringing URLs. It also ordered disclosure of subscriber information of violators in a sealed cover to strengthen enforcement.

In its reasoning, the bench observed that misuse of celebrity identity not only erodes dignity and goodwill but also risks misleading the public into believing false endorsements. The matter is set to continue, with the next hearing scheduled for January 15, 2026.

The ruling underscores a pivotal shift in Indian jurisprudence: recognition of the commercial and reputational harm caused by unauthorized use of celebrity likeness, especially in the age of AI and digital manipulation. It sets a strong precedent for other public figures to safeguard their rights, while placing accountability on digital platforms to act swiftly on takedown orders.