Delhi HC shields Sri Sri Ravi Shankar from AI deepfake misuse

93

The Delhi High Court has granted interim protection to spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, restraining unknown individuals and platforms from creating or circulating AI-generated deepfakes using his likeness.

Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora issued the order after fabricated videos appeared online between July and August 2025. These clips falsely portrayed Ravi Shankar endorsing unverified health remedies and attributing miraculous cures to his teachings — content his counsel argued misrepresented his philosophy and misled the public.

The injunction bars the use of his name, image, voice, likeness, or distinctive style of speech in any AI-generated format without consent. The court categorised the violators as “John Doe” defendants, recognising the anonymity of digital creators and distributors of such content.

The order reflects judicial recognition of the risks posed by deepfakes to public figures, particularly spiritual leaders whose credibility rests on trust and authenticity. “Exploitation of his persona without consent risks irreparable harm to his reputation and teachings,” the court observed.

The case underscores India’s growing legal response to AI misuse, coming soon after similar protections were extended to celebrities such as Asha Bhosle and Nagarjuna. Legal experts say such injunctions mark an important step toward building precedents for safeguarding personality rights in the age of generative AI.

Further hearings will determine long-term remedies, including possible damages for reputational harm. For now, the interim order acts as a safeguard against the misuse of Ravi Shankar’s persona in digital content.