Court Orders Takedown of AI-Morphed Content Targeting Shilpa Shetty

The Bombay High Court has ordered the immediate removal of AI-generated morphed images and videos of actor Shilpa Shetty, describing the content as “prima facie extremely disturbing” and a grave violation of her right to privacy.

The direction came while the court was hearing Shetty’s plea seeking protection against the unauthorised misuse of her identity through manipulated digital material circulated online. Justice Advait Sethna, who presided over the matter, reviewed the AI-generated content hosted across several websites and social media platforms and found it objectionable at first glance.

In its order, the court underscored that no individual -- “much less a person and or a woman”--can be portrayed in a manner that infringes upon her fundamental right to privacy, particularly without her knowledge or consent. The court further observed that such depictions were inappropriate, unacceptable, and capable of causing serious harm to Shetty’s image and reputation.

Invoking the “interest of justice”, the High Court directed all defendants involved to delete the specified URLs and ensure the removal of the content from their platforms.

Shetty had approached the court alleging that artificial intelligence tools were misused to clone her voice, expressions, and mannerisms, leading to the circulation of morphed images, videos, books, and merchandise without her consent. Through her suit, she sought an injunction against the websites hosting the material and an order restraining the unauthorised use of her name, image, and voice.

The order comes amid separate legal proceedings involving Shetty and her husband, businessman Raj Kundra. Earlier this year, Mumbai’s Economic Offences Wing registered a case against the couple in connection with an alleged Rs60.4 crore fraud involving a city-based businessman. An unidentified individual has also been named in the case.

The complainant, Deepak Kothari, has alleged that he was cheated of over Rs60 crore through a loan-cum-investment arrangement linked to Best Deal TV Pvt Ltd, a company previously associated with Shetty and Kundra. The funds, invested between 2015 and 2023 for business expansion, were allegedly diverted for personal use. The EOW is currently investigating the matter.

Kundra has denied the allegations, calling them baseless and motivated. In a statement on X, he said a petition to quash the case is pending before the High Court and added that he and Shetty have fully cooperated with the investigation.

On the professional front, Shetty was last seen in the 2023 Hindi dramedy Sukhee. She is set to return to cinemas in 2026 with the Kannada pan-India film KD: The Devil, which also stars Dhruva Sarja, Sanjay Dutt, and Nora Fatehi.

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