The Bombay High Court on Monday allowed Union Minister Nitin Gadkari to institute a civil suit against Meta Platforms, X Corp, Google LLC and unidentified persons for circulating “defamatory deepfakes and AI-generated content” in his name regarding the ethanol-blended fuel programme. Gadkari heads the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
Allegations Over AI-Generated Deepfakes
According to the proposed suit, unknown persons have uploaded and circulated posts and deepfake content falsely portraying him as being personally responsible for the programme. The content also alleges that he and his family have financially benefited from it.
Court Grants Permission to Proceed
Justice Abhay Ahuja allowed Gadkari’s application seeking leave under Clause XII of the Letters Patent. Such permission is required when a part of the cause of action arises outside the territorial jurisdiction of the Bombay High Court, enabling it to entertain the proposed civil suit.
Arguments Presented Before the Court
Appearing for Gadkari, advocate Sandeep Ladda argued that the “defamatory posts and AI-generated deepfake content” are available to users in Maharashtra. Since the material can be accessed in the state, a substantial part of the cause of action arises within the jurisdiction of the Bombay High Court, he submitted.
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Accepting the submissions, Justice Ahuja granted Gadkari leave to file the suit.
Gadkari Seeks Permanent Injunction
In the proposed suit, the minister contends that the allegations are “false, malicious and grossly defamatory” and have been created to mislead the public and damage his reputation.
Through the civil action, he proposes to seek permanent injunctions restraining the publication and circulation of the allegedly false and fabricated content.
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