The Delhi High Court has granted Gautam Gambhir, a former Indian cricketer and current head coach of the national men’s cricket team, protection of his personality rights. The court issued directives for the removal of all objectionable content related to Gambhir across various social media and internet platforms. Furthermore, it instructed major tech companies such as Meta, Google, and Amazon to eliminate inappropriate URLs associated with unauthorized use of Gambhir’s identity.

Misuse of Identity and Deepfake Technology

Gambhir’s legal team argued that his name, voice, and photographs have been commercially exploited without his consent. The petition highlighted the misuse of advanced technologies like deepfakes and AI manipulation to misrepresent Gambhir’s identity. Instances of deepfake videos appearing on social media, falsely claiming that Gambhir had resigned from his position as head coach, were addressed, with one particular video achieving 2.9 million views shortly after its release.

Rise of Misleading Content Online

The athlete pointed out that he has over 12 million followers on social media platforms, where numerous misleading and offensive posts concerning him are being circulated, especially on X, formerly known as Twitter. Gambhir emphasized the urgent need to curb such content. He stated, “My identity — my name, my face, my voice — has been weaponised by anonymous accounts to spread misinformation and generate revenue at my expense.”

Legal Actions and Personality Rights

This situation extends beyond personal grievances, as Gambhir underscored that it encompasses legal principles of dignity and the rights that every public figure is entitled to in the age of artificial intelligence. His petition included multiple instances of fabricated videos gaining significant traction online, including a fake resignation video that was virally shared, along with misleading clips targeting senior cricketers which acquired over 1.7 million views.

Defendants in the Case

The legal action involves 16 defendants, which encompass both social media accounts and e-commerce platforms like Amazon and Flipkart. Intermediaries including Meta, X, Google, and YouTube, alongside relevant government bodies, are also mentioned in the case. The petition is anchored on the principles of personality rights as well as provisions found in essential intellectual property and commercial laws.

Recent Successes in Coaching

Recently, Gambhir led the Indian cricket team to victory in the T20 World Cup 2026, marking their achievement as the first team to successfully defend the trophy. Under his guidance, India also claimed victories in the Champions Trophy 2025 and the Asia Cup 2025, highlighting his successful tenure as head coach of the national side.

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