A Chandigarh court ordered Meta to remove an AI-generated video depicting Punjab MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira in women's clothing from Facebook and Instagram within 72 hours. The court granted an ad-interim injunction on August 12, ruling the content defamatory and objectionable, and directed the removal of the video from specified URLs, according to medianama.com.
The video digitally superimposed Khaira’s face, beard, and turbaned Sikh appearance onto an AI-generated body wearing an off-shoulder women's dress. Khaira’s lawyer, Sarabjot Singh Cheema, argued that the video had spread widely, damaging the MLA’s reputation globally and offending viewers due to the depiction of his turbaned Sikh identity. Civil Judge Kaushal Kumar Yadav noted the potential for irreparable harm if the content remained accessible.
This case highlights growing legal challenges around AI-generated content and its impact on personal rights and reputation. It follows increasing scrutiny of digital intermediaries like Meta to police objectionable AI-manipulated media. The ruling aligns with broader efforts to address misinformation and defamation on social platforms, emphasizing the responsibility of companies to act swiftly when ordered by courts.
The court order specifically named the Facebook page “Charda Punjab” and Instagram account “Chard_apunjab” as hosts of the video. The 72-hour removal deadline marks a concrete enforcement action against AI-generated defamatory content, setting a precedent for similar cases involving digital impersonation and reputation protection.