Bollywood actor Preity Zinta has approached the Bombay High Court seeking protection against AI-generated deepfake videos, morphed images and other unauthorised digital content allegedly circulating online in her name.

Justice Madhav Jamdar on Thursday indicated that the Court would pass orders on July 6 after the parties evolve a mechanism for removing the objectionable material from online platforms.

Zinta has arrayed several intermediaries as respondents, including Google and Meta, along with domain name registrars and identified infringers. In her suit, she has complained of AI-generated deepfake videos, morphed images and chatbot-style interactions falsely depicting her on various online platforms.

Appearing for Zinta, Senior Advocate Venkatesh Dhond submitted that AI-generated deepfakes were becoming increasingly sophisticated and realistic. He urged the Court to pass urgent ex parte directions requiring identified websites and intermediaries to take down all infringing content flagged in the suit.

Dhond also sought John Doe directions against unknown infringers and a wider injunction restraining any person or entity from publishing or circulating unauthorised AI-generated content featuring the actor.

Counsel appearing for Google and Meta informed the Court that they had no objection to removing URLs containing morphed, obscene or otherwise unlawful content identified by the plaintiff. However, they opposed any blanket direction requiring them to proactively monitor or remove content that may not be infringing.

The intermediaries further submitted that some of the URLs cited in the suit did not, in fact, contain objectionable material.

A domain name registrar also clarified that its role was limited to registering domain names and that it had no control over content hosted on social media platforms or other third-party websites.

Justice Jamdar observed that any interim order must be carefully tailored to ensure that objectionable content is removed without affecting legitimate online material.

While indicating that the case warranted protective relief, the Court directed all parties to confer and devise a practical protocol for identifying and taking down genuinely infringing content while ensuring that lawful content remains unaffected.

The matter has been listed for further hearing on July 6, when the Court is expected to pass its interim order.

Case Title: Preity Zinta v. Google LLC & Ors.,