Presided over by Justice Jyoti Singh, the court directed major digital intermediaries and tech platforms—including Google, Meta (Facebook/Instagram), X, Reddit, eBay, and GoDaddy—to immediately remove or disable access to over 150 URLs carrying infringing, pornographic, or misleading content targeting the actor.
Nature of Violations & Court’s Injunction
Tabu (legally Tabassum Jamal Hashmi) approached the High Court through Senior Advocate Swathi Sukumar, raising grave concerns regarding widespread digital exploitation:
AI-Generated Deepfakes & Morphing: The suit highlighted the circulation of AI-generated obscene videos, GIFs, and face-morphed images created by manipulating movie scenes, public appearances, and interview footage.
Commercial Merchandise & Unregistered Sales: Third-party websites were found selling unauthorized calendars, mugs, hoodies, sweatshirts, and posters featuring her likeness to drive unearned commercial gains.
Fake Event Booking Accounts: Fraudulent social media accounts (including an Instagram page with thousands of followers) were falsely offering paid bookings for Tabu's appearances and performances without her consent.
Landmark Observations on AI & Right to Dignity
Justice Jyoti Singh observed that Tabu’s stage name, voice, likeness, and movie stills have acquired unique distinctiveness over her three-decade career, associating them instantly with her identity:
"Unauthorised exploitation of the attributes of famous personalities can cause not only commercial detriment, but can also affect their privacy, personality, and right to live with dignity."
— Justice Jyoti Singh, Delhi High Court
36-Hour Takedown Window: The court instructed platforms to purge flagged links within 36 hours of receiving the order.
IP Log & Subscriber Disclosures: Tech platforms and domain registries were further ordered to disclose the Basic Subscriber Information (BSI) and IP log details of anonymous accounts and uploaders within three weeks to enable legal prosecution.
Precedent Alignment: The ruling explicitly cites precedent established in landmark personality rights cases, including Anil Kapoor v. Simply Life India, Jackie Shroff v. Peppy Store, and D.M. Entertainment v. Baby Gift House.
Trade Verdict:
As generative AI tools lower the barrier for deepfake creation and unauthorized brand monetisation, the Delhi High Court's ruling adds to a growing legal framework safeguarding celebrity publicity rights in India. The interim protections will remain in force through the next formal hearing on December 7, 2026.
