Actress Preity Zinta has approached the Bombay High Court seeking legal action against several entities including Google LLC, Meta Platform and other websites over the alleged creation and spread of AI-generated deepfakes and manipulation of digital content featuring her. The Bombay High Court has granted permission to the actress to file a substantive civil suit, allowing her to pursue claims related to alleged infringement of her personality rights, copyright and professional reputation.
Bombay HC allows Preity Zinta to file suit against Google, Meta in deepfake case
Allegations of deepfakes and manipulated content
According to submissions before the court, Zinta has alleged that multiple platforms and websites created, uploaded and distributed deepfake videos, altered images, memes, AI-generated chatbot personas and other forms of digital content that used her identity without authorization.
Advocate Rohan Kadam, appearing for the actor, argued before a single-judge bench of Justice Abhay Ahuja on June 16 that the defendants have made the content accessible to the public on various online platforms.
The actress argued that such content violates her legal rights and harms her public image.
Concerns about reputation and goodwill
In her petition, Zinta said that the dissemination of manipulated content affects her goodwill, reputation and personality. The lawsuit also alleges that this act is a violation of her moral rights under the Copyright Act.
Kadam said the controversial content was disseminated globally through digital platforms, making its impact far-reaching.
Although some of the respondents are based outside Mumbai and many of the online activities took place outside the city’s jurisdiction, the actor sought permission to initiate proceedings before the Bombay High Court.
Later the court gave him permission to file the case.
After the court grants permission to file the lawsuit, the case is expected to move through the legal process in the coming weeks.
