Relief for Raghav Chadha as Delhi High Court orders removal of objectionable social media posts against BJP MP | Today’s news
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday ordered the removal of certain inappropriate social media content targeting Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha, who recently defected from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Justice Subramonium Prasad granted an order on Chadha’s application for interim relief in a suit alleging misuse of his image, likeness, voice and identity through AI-generated deepfakes, morphed visuals and manipulated social media content.
“The suit does not involve personality rights”
At the same time, the court ruled that this suit did not involve personality rights, indicating that the complaint raised in the case did not fall within the protections normally available in personality suits.
“I have said that no personality rights are involved. But I have asked for (certain content) to be removed,” Justice Subramonium Prasad said while announcing the preliminary order in the matter.
“Relax, the content is not prima facie defamatory,” added the judge.
The Supreme Court ordered the removal of certain content that allegedly portrayed Chadha as having “sold out for money”, deeming such material defamatory.
“The Difference Between Slander and Legitimate Criticism”
The matter was reserved for orders following a preliminary hearing, during which the Court found that the material before it appeared prima facie to be a criticism of a policy decision rather than a straightforward case of a violation of personality rights.
During the hearing, the Bench noted that the distinction between defamation and legitimate criticism is often a fine one, and emphasized the need to balance an individual’s right to dignity and reputation with the constitutional guarantee of freedom of expression under Article 19. The Court also noted that political leaders have historically been subject to satire and criticism in public life.
What Chadha was looking for
Senior advocate Rajiv Nayar, appearing for Chadha, argued that the content circulating online went beyond political criticism and consisted of defamatory and blasphemous posts depicting the MP as changing political allegiance for monetary gain. He stated that such AI-generated and manipulated material caused serious reputational damage.
Chadha approached the Supreme Court seeking protection against the alleged misuse of his image, likeness, voice and identity through artificial intelligence and digitally manipulated content spread on social media platforms. He sought guidance restricting the creation and dissemination of AI-generated deepfakes, morphed videos, synthetic voice clones, fabricated speeches and other allegedly deceptive content using his person without consent.
The 37-year-old Chadha, the first Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab, came under heavy criticism and online trolling from many of his former supporters after he defected to the BJP along with six other AAP legislators in April.
