Nitin Gadkari Takes Deepfake Battle to Bombay High Court

The Bombay High Court is set to hear Union Minister Nitin Gadkari’s plea on August 5 against Meta, X Corp, Google LLC, and several unidentified individuals over the circulation of alleged deepfake videos and AI-generated posts related to the government's ethanol policy.

The matter was mentioned before Justice Arif Doctor, who directed Gadkari’s lawyer, Sandeep Ladda, to provide copies of the civil suit to all the respondents before the next hearing.

According to the plea, fake videos and AI-generated posts have been shared online in a way that allegedly misrepresents Gadkari’s views and actions on the ethanol policy. The minister has argued that the content is fabricated, defamatory, and has the potential to mislead people while harming his public image.

Gadkari has urged the court to direct social media platforms to immediately remove all such content. He has also sought a permanent injunction to stop the further creation, publication, or circulation of similar AI-generated or manipulated material.

The case comes at a time when concerns over deepfakes and AI-generated misinformation are growing across the world. As artificial intelligence becomes more accessible, courts are increasingly being asked to address questions around online accountability, misinformation, and the responsibility of digital platforms in preventing the spread of fake content. The High Court is expected to take up the matter for detailed hearing on August 5.