Bollywood actor and IPL team co-owner Preity Zinta has approached the Bombay High Court over the growing misuse of artificial intelligence to create deepfake and morphed content using her name and likeness without consent. The actor has filed a lawsuit against major tech companies including Google and Meta, along with domain name registrars, several identified individuals, and “John Doe” defendants, allowing the case to cover unknown people involved in creating or distributing such content.
According to reports cited in court, the petition highlights how AI-generated videos, edited images, and even chatbot-style interactions allegedly using Preity Zinta’s identity have been circulating across platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook. The plea argues that this content has been created and shared without her permission and is being misused for both personal and commercial purposes. It further claims that such activity violates her personality rights, privacy, and moral rights as a public figure.
During the hearing, her legal team, led by senior advocate Venkatesh Dhond, told the court that the rapid rise of AI has made deepfakes increasingly realistic, making it extremely difficult for the public to distinguish between genuine and fake content. The lawyers urged the court to direct immediate removal of all identified infringing material and also sought broader safeguards to prevent future misuse of her identity.
Representatives of Google and Meta informed the court that they are willing to remove specific links flagged as morphed or obscene, provided the URLs are clearly identified. However, they opposed any sweeping order requiring platforms to proactively monitor all content, stating that some links mentioned in the petition do not necessarily violate legal standards. A domain registrar named in the case also clarified that its role is limited to registering domain names and that it does not host or control content on websites or social media platforms.
The Bombay High Court acknowledged the complexity of the issue, especially with AI-generated content blurring the line between real and fake media. Justice Madhav Jamdar noted that any order must strike a balance—ensuring removal of harmful content while protecting legitimate online expression. He directed all parties to work together to find a practical and effective takedown mechanism.
This case adds to a growing list of celebrities in India seeking legal protection against digital misuse of their identity, including actors like Kartik Aaryan, Shilpa Shetty, Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, and others, as well as singers such as Asha Bhosle and Arijit Singh.
The matter had earlier received permission to be filed under Clause XII of the Letters Patent, allowing the Bombay High Court to hear it due to its impact being felt in Mumbai, where the actor resides. The next hearing is scheduled for July 6, where the court is expected to continue discussions on framing a workable solution for tackling AI-generated misuse while preserving legitimate content online.
