Rajat Sharma AI media incident — Dec 2024
The Delhi High Court has ordered Meta and Google to remove deepfake videos of journalist Rajat Sharma that used AI to distort his likeness and voice
- Incident date
- Dec 2024
- Target
- Rajat Sharma
In 2024, India TV chairman and journalist Rajat Sharma and his network initiated legal action against the unauthorized use of AI-generated content featuring his likeness. The Delhi High Court ultimately issued a permanent injunction requiring Meta and Google to remove various Facebook pages and YouTube channels found to be circulating deepfake videos of the veteran broadcaster.
What happened
The court determined that several defendants were perpetuating misinformation by using AI technology to create doctored videos. These videos featured distorted, modified, and modulated images, voices, and personality traits of Sharma, who has been a prominent face of Indian television for over two decades. Beyond the manipulation of his persona, the court noted the unauthorized use and infringement of India TV’s registered trademarks and copyrights.
The initial legal challenge targeted multiple platforms, including Facebook pages such as TAMARA DOC, Indian Medical Association, and LEGEND MAP 62, alongside YouTube channels like THE INDIAN NEWS TODAY and Sone Chandi Ka Bhav. In a decree dated August 24, Justice Jyoti Singh mandated that Meta and Google must acknowledge takedown requests from the plaintiffs within 24 hours and act upon them within 36 hours.
During the proceedings, additional YouTube channels—specifically THE REAL REPORT, THE INDIAN NEWS TODAY, JSR NEWS, and Sone Chandi Ka Bhav—were impleaded. Google reported that it terminated The Real Report and JSR News in October 2024. The court further ordered the disclosure of subscriber information and IP logs for the remaining accounts. The final decree establishes a standing mechanism for Sharma and India TV to report future infringing content, covering any direct or indirect misuse of his name, likeness, image, or voice.