Bombay High Court Orders Removal of Defamatory AI Videos Targeting Nitin Gadkari

The Bombay High Court has taken a firm stand against the spread of defamatory content on social media, ordering platforms to remove artificial intelligence-generated deepfake videos that wrongly associate Union Minister Nitin Gadkari with controversies surrounding the government’s ethanol-blending initiative. This decision was made on Wednesday by Justice Arif Doctor, who found the material cited by Gadkari in his legal complaint to be ‘per se defamatory.’

Previously, on July 27, Justice Abhay Ahuja had permitted Gadkari, who serves as the Minister for Road Transport and Highways, to file a civil suit against major technology firms, including Meta, Google, and X. The lawsuit was predicated on the assertion that these companies were hosting content that linked him to the controversial ethanol-blending programme, which mandates that petrol sold in India contain 20% ethanol.

The ethanol-blending policy aims to reduce India’s reliance on fossil fuels, curtail greenhouse gas emissions, and enhance the income of sugarcane farmers. However, it has faced significant backlash from vehicle owners, who have raised concerns about the impact of E20 fuel on their cars, claiming it reduces mileage and causes damage.

In his petition, Gadkari clarified that the implementation of the E20 programme falls under the purview of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, asserting that he does not oversee its administration. He further alleged that the social media posts linking him to the programme contained ‘profane and abusive language,’ which he argues has harmed his reputation and standing.

This ruling highlights the growing concerns over misinformation and the potential repercussions it has on public figures in India. As the government continues to push for policies aimed at sustainability and agricultural support, the need for accurate representation and discourse surrounding such initiatives is more critical than ever. The court’s directive to social media platforms marks a significant step in addressing the challenges posed by deceptive content in the digital age.

Source: scroll.in