New Delhi: The Delhi High Court directed Meta Platforms and Google to take action against Facebook pages and YouTube channels carrying deepfake content that allegedly misused the name, image, voice and other personality attributes of India TV Chairman Rajat Sharma. In a permanent injunction dated August 24, 2026, Justice Jyoti Singh also laid down a mechanism for Sharma and India TV to report subsequently discovered content involving similar misuse, according to a statement issued by India TV. Under the mechanism, the platforms have to acknowledge a request within 24 hours and take action within 36 hours thereafter. If they fail to act, Sharma and India TV can approach the court for further directions. The order covers content involving the direct or indirect misuse, misappropriation or exploitation of Sharma’s name, likeness, image, voice, photographs, videos or other aspects of his persona where it amounts to infringement of personality and publicity rights, copyright or trademarks. Sharma and India TV will, however, have to provide Meta and Google with supporting particulars or documents, on affidavit, showing that subsequently flagged URLs or content fall within the subject matter of the suit. Facebook pages and YouTube channels named According to the India TV statement, the Facebook pages involved included TAMARA DOC, Indian Medical Association, New Convivio, Travinin, The Hope of Your Joints, LEGEND MAP 62 and MESONERO SOTO. YouTube channels named in the proceedings included THE REAL REPORT, THE INDIAN NEWS TODAY, JSR NEWS and Sone Chandi Ka Bhav. The court proceedings date back to December 2024, when an ex parte order restrained eight defendants from using Sharma’s personality attributes and India TV’s intellectual property. During the pendency of the case, four YouTube channels were subsequently impleaded over allegations that they were circulating deepfake videos using Sharma’s personality attributes without authorisation. The court recorded in November 2025 that Google had terminated the accounts of THE REAL REPORT and JSR NEWS after reviewing complaints against them. The accounts of THE INDIAN NEWS TODAY and Sone Chandi Ka Bhav were still under review at the time. The court subsequently directed Google to take down those two channels within 36 hours of the order being uploaded and to disclose available basic subscriber information, IP logs and other access or contact details, according to the statement. Court flags use of AI-generated doctored videos According to India TV, the High Court recorded that the defendants had used AI technology to create doctored videos containing altered or manipulated images, voice and other personality attributes of Sharma. The proceedings also involved allegations of unauthorised use of India TV’s registered trademarks and copyright-protected material. Most of the defendants did not file written statements despite service of notices, the statement said. Their right to file written statements was closed by the Joint Registrar on July 15, 2026. The court granted Sharma and India TV liberty to seek recognition of the India TV trademarks as “well-known” trademarks under the Trade Marks Act, 1999, through a separate proceeding. The final directions are significant for the continuing problem of AI-generated impersonation involving television anchors, celebrities and other public personalities, particularly where manipulated videos are distributed through social platforms. In this case, the court’s mechanism allows fresh infringing links connected with the existing dispute to be reported directly to Meta and Google rather than requiring the plaintiffs to initiate fresh proceedings for every subsequently discovered URL.
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