Bombay HC takes BIG step on ‘shocking, disturbing’ AI-morphed photos of Shilpa Shetty, directs social media platforms to…

The Bombay High Court on Friday termed actor Shilpa Shetty’s AI (artificial intelligence) generated and transformed photos as “highly disturbing and shocking” and directed various social media platforms to immediately delete and remove all such links and websites.

The actor had moved the HC seeking protection of his personal rights and also an order against websites and AI-generated content that allegedly carried morphed and manipulated pictures and videos of him.

The vacation bench of Justice Advait Sethna stated that the material uploaded on the websites was “prima facie extremely disturbing” and that “no personality, especially a person or a woman, can be depicted without her knowledge and/or consent in a manner that affects her fundamental right to privacy”.

Shetty had alleged in his lawsuit that artificial intelligence tools were used to clone his voice and mannerisms to create altered images, books and other products without his permission. He requested an injunction to remove the content from all websites and also to prevent unauthorized use of his name, voice or image.

The apex court, in its order, stated that Shetty submitted photographs from such social media platforms that depicted him in an inappropriate and unacceptable manner. “These pictures appear shocking at first glance,” said Judge Sethna.

Shilpa is a well-known film personality and is also active on various social media platforms. The court added that displaying such images through URLs would tarnish his image and reputation and this cannot be approved. “In the interest of justice”, the high court directed all the accused to immediately delete the URLs from their respective platforms.

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