The Delhi High Court has granted interim protection to actor and BJP MP Ravi Kishan concerning the misuse of his identity. The court’s order, made on July 6, 2023, restricts various individuals, websites, and platforms from using or exploiting his name, image, likeness, and other personal attributes without permission.

This decision arose during the hearing of a lawsuit filed by Kishan, whose full name is Ravindra Shukla. He sought the protection of his personality and publicity rights against allegations of misuse across social media and other online channels.

Justice Jyoti Singh issued the interim order, which prohibits numerous unnamed defendants, including generic “John Doe” individuals, from exploiting Kishan’s identity for commercial or personal gain. This includes the use of technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Generative AI, Machine Learning, and deepfakes.

Removal Of Obscene Content Mandated

The court directed that URLs containing obscene, pornographic, and AI-generated content misappropriating Kishan’s identity be removed. The defendants, along with relevant domain name registrars, were instructed to take down the offending URLs listed in Annexure-A of the court order within three days of receiving it.

Furthermore, the court informed that if the defendants fail to comply with the removal order, Kishan may notify significant tech companies like Meta Platforms, Google LLC, and X Corp. These companies would then be required to act on the removal request within seventy-two hours of receiving such a notification.

Justice Singh highlighted that Kishan had demonstrated a prima facie case for the relief being sought. The judge noted that the balance of convenience lay in Kishan’s favour, indicating that he would suffer irreparable harm if the injunction was not issued in a timely fashion.

Recognition of Personality Rights Acknowledged

In its consideration, the court recognised Kishan’s extensive career spanning over three decades in cinema and public life. The judge observed that Kishan has cultivated substantial goodwill and reputation and retains exclusive rights over the commercial exploitation of his identifiable personality attributes.

It was noted that the unauthorised use of Kishan’s attributes not only threatens commercial interests but also infringes upon his rights to privacy and personal dignity. The court referred to previous rulings on personality rights, affirming that prominent individuals are entitled to legal protections against the unapproved use of their identities.

This particular case highlights the sensitivity surrounding the use of public figures’ images, especially when such usage pertains to vulgar, obscene, or sexually explicit content. The court upheld the need to shield individuals from potential damage to their reputation.

Kishan’s legal complaint alleges that multiple social media channels and websites had published objectionable material, including fabricated statements and sexually explicit AI-generated videos that utilised his likeness without consent. Specific instances cited in the plaint noted that certain websites manipulated his name as a keyword to promote pornographic content.

The court has since issued summons for the suit and notices regarding the interim injunction application. Defendants have been instructed to file written statements within thirty days of receiving the summons. The case is set to be presented before the Joint Registrar on August 13, 2026, with a hearing for the interim injunction slated for October 16, 2026.

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