The Bombay High Court has issued a significant directive, ordering major tech platforms including Meta and Google to remove deepfakes, AI-generated images, and other malicious posts that falsely associate Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and his family with the E20 fuel program. The court described the content as "absolutely vile and abusive," emphasizing that such material has no place on public platforms.
Court Orders Immediate Takedown
Justice Arif Doctor granted interim relief in a suit filed by Minister Gadkari, noting that both Meta and Google had appeared before the court and agreed to comply with the takedown order. The platforms committed to removing the specific content identified in Gadkari’s legal challenge, which included manipulated videos and AI-generated imagery.
Allegations of Defamation and Financial Misconduct
Gadkari's lawsuit targeted Meta, X (formerly Twitter), Google/YouTube, the Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, the Department of Telecommunications, and unknown users. He sought permanent injunctions to ensure the removal of content he deemed defamatory and misleading.
The deepfake posts falsely claimed Gadkari was personally responsible for the E20 program and suggested that he and his family had reaped financial benefits from its implementation. Specifically, allegations pointed to his son, Nikhil Gadkari, who runs CIAN Agro Industries & Infrastructure Limited, an ethanol manufacturer, implying the company profited from ethanol blending in petrol.
Gadkari Denies Claims, Cites Official Records
Minister Gadkari vehemently denied all allegations, asserting that the E20 program is officially managed and implemented by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, not by him personally. His plea highlighted that these claims amounted to "documentary falsity" and falsely insinuated corruption, conflict of interest, and abuse of office.
The court's swift action underscores growing concerns over the proliferation of deepfake technology and its potential for severe reputational damage to public figures.