Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has initiated legal action against Meta Platforms, X Corp, and Google LLC, seeking to remove AI-generated deepfake content that falsely implicates him in the ethanol-blended fuel program. The Bombay High Court has granted Gadkari permission to file a civil suit against these tech giants and other unidentified individuals.
Gadkari's lawsuit alleges that manipulated videos and posts have been circulated online, portraying him as the primary architect of the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) and E20 initiatives. These programs are managed by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, not Gadkari's Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
The deepfake content suggests that Gadkari and his family have financially benefited from these programs, claims he denies. He argues that such content is defamatory and has caused irreparable harm to his reputation.
The Bombay High Court has scheduled a hearing for August 5 to address the matter. Gadkari seeks a permanent injunction against the circulation of the alleged defamatory content.
This case highlights the growing concern over the misuse of AI technology to create misleading content that can damage individuals' reputations. The outcome may set a precedent for how such cases are handled in India.