The Delhi High Court has granted ex parte ad-interim protection to actor and Member of Parliament Kangana Ranaut against the unauthorised use of her personality attributes, including AI-generated sexual deepfakes, morphed images, manipulated videos and fabricated statements circulated online.
Justice Vikas Mahajan held that Kangana Ranaut had made out a prima facie strong case for protection of her personality rights. The Court observed that the alleged content could cause irreparable injury to her reputation, dignity and public image, and that the balance of convenience favoured her.
The Court restrained the defendants, including unidentified persons, from unauthorisedly exploiting Ranaut’s name, image, likeness, voice, speeches, signature and other personality attributes. The restraint also covers the creation or dissemination of AI-generated content, deepfakes, synthetic media, manipulated videos and audio recordings, fabricated speeches, false endorsements and impersonation content depicting or purporting to depict her.
The Court directed Meta Platforms Inc. to remove, disable access to and permanently take down the identified infringing content listed in Annexure A and Document K of the plaint from its platforms, including videos, reels, posts, accounts and channels, within 72 hours of being served a copy of the order. Meta must file a compliance affidavit within two weeks.
The Court also directed the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and the Department of Telecommunications to issue necessary directions to internet and telecom service providers to block or remove access to the identified infringing websites within 72 hours of receiving the order. They must file compliance affidavits within two weeks.
The Court clarified that Ranaut may notify the defendants of additional infringing URLs, accounts, channels or content discovered after filing the suit, which must then be removed or disabled without requiring fresh proceedings.
The defendants may approach the Court for clarification regarding the URLs covered by the order. Any website or social media account that is not primarily infringing but is blocked pursuant to the order may seek modification by giving an undertaking that it does not intend to infringe Ranaut’s personality rights.
The Court issued notice in the suit and listed the matter before the Joint Registrar on December 4, 2026, for completion of service and pleadings, and before the Court on February 3, 2027.
