New Delhi, Sept 25: The Delhi High Court on Friday directed Meta Platforms to take immediate steps to remove allegedly manipulated social media content involving a woman and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.The case relates to a petition filed by the woman, who alleged that her photograph was obtained without her consent during a protest at Jantar Mantar and later manipulated using artificial intelligence-based face-swapping technology.
According to the petition, the altered image placed her face in an explicit and objectionable photograph alongside the Prime Minister and was subsequently circulated on social media.Justice Girish Kathpalia, while hearing the matter, observed that the issue had wider implications as the alleged content also involved the Prime Minister of the country.
The court also issued notices to Saurav Das, Abhijit Dipke, Ashutosh Ranka and Ratna Singh, who have been named in the woman’s complaint over the alleged circulation of the manipulated material.
The woman told the court that she had received threats following the circulation of the alleged deepfake content. Taking note of her concerns, the High Court directed the Delhi Police to provide her with complete protection.The petition further stated that an FIR had already been registered in connection with the alleged circulation of the manipulated images.
The woman, however, claimed that effective steps had not been taken to identify those responsible or stop the spread of the allegedly fabricated content.The court’s direction to Meta seeks to limit further circulation of the disputed material while the legal proceedings and investigation continue.
The High Court has fixed October 14 for the next hearing in the matter.The allegations made in the petition are yet to be adjudicated by the court, and the issuance of notices does not by itself establish the allegations against the individuals named in the proceedings.
