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Journalism of Courage
The Delhi High Court has asked Google to try and ensure that misleading and deepfake content infringing the personality rights of Isha Foundation’s Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev are removed and similar material is taken down through its technology.
While hearing the plea of Vasudev, Justice Manmeet Pritam Sing Arora on October 14, directed the parties to hold a meeting, where the plaintiff could specifically identify the contents that falls within the exception of the policy of Google Ads.
The court further said Google “must make an endeavour to ensure that the identical or similar content is removed through its technology so as to obviate the plaintiff’s onus of looking out for such URLs”.
The court said if Google has any technological limitations or reservations on this direction, it can take instructions and file an affidavit.
Sadhguru’s counsel referred to an “infringing link” on YouTube, calling it a gross misrepresentation that fell within the category of “misleading representation identified by Google Ads products in its advertisement policy”.
He said in view of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, Google ought to endeavour to bring in place a technology, which identifies identical content to obviate the necessity of the plaintiff to repeatedly approach the defendant for the taking down of identical content.
Google’s counsel responded saying it was willing to have a collaborative approach with the plaintiff to address their concerns and would actively cooperate in taking down any further links pointed out to them.
In June this year, Vasudev and his Isha Foundation moved the Delhi High Court against the misuse of his identity through AI-generated deepfakes.
The Indian Express earlier reported that a 57-year-old retired woman in Bengaluru lost Rs 3.75 crore to scammers who used an AI-generated deepfake video of the spiritual guru to promote fake investment opportunities.
The woman, a resident of CV Raman Nagar, was completely unaware of deepfake technology when she encountered what appeared like a genuine Sadhguru video on social media between February 25 and April 23.
In a press release, Isha Foundation claimed that despite the court’s May 30 order, which granted protection to Sadhguru’s personality rights and directed Google to suspend, take down, and disable such infringing channels and content, there had been a surge in fake advertisements on YouTube.
“These included fraudulent ads falsely claiming Sadhguru’s arrest and doctored videos showing him promoting fake investment schemes. Cunningly exploiting public trust in Sadhguru’s name, these clickbait ads lure unsuspecting users to websites designed to harvest personal and financial data or promote bogus investment scams,” it added.
The release continued, “ Isha Foundation continues to take proactive steps to remove such fraudulent material and safeguard individuals from falling prey to these scams. The Foundation urges the public to remain vigilant and to report any fake advertisements or videos on YouTube falsely claiming that Sadhguru has been arrested by marking them as ‘scam’ or ‘misleading’.”
