New Delhi, August 10, 2026

The Delhi High Court has granted Bollywood actor Tabu an ex-parte interim injunction safeguarding her personality and publicity rights, in a ruling that highlights the growing threat posed by artificial intelligence and digital manipulation to celebrity identities. Justice Jyoti Singh directed platforms including Google, Meta, X and Reddit to remove or disable access to more than 150 URLs allegedly carrying unauthorised and objectionable material involving the actor. The court also ordered certain platforms and domain service providers to provide Basic Subscriber Information and IP log details that could help identify those responsible for the disputed content.

Tabu had approached the court claiming that her identity and public image were being used online without her consent through fake event-booking accounts, unauthorised merchandise, fabricated statements and manipulated digital content. The court observed that her name and stage name, image, voice, likeness and other distinctive attributes had developed a unique identity in the public consciousness. It held that she had established a prima facie case for interim protection and that continued misuse could cause irreparable harm. The allegations also included AI-generated obscene images, videos and GIFs allegedly created using material from her films, interviews and public appearances, with edited scenes allegedly being circulated to sensationalise content and attract traffic and revenue.

The interim order restrains the defendants, including unidentified John Does, from using or exploiting any aspect of Tabu’s personality or publicity rights without her consent. The protection covers her stage name, real name Tabassum Jamal Hashmi, voice recordings and duplications, signatures and initials, photographs, images and movie stills. Significantly, the directions expressly cover AI, Generative AI, Machine Learning, deepfakes, face morphing and GIFs across websites, mobile applications, social media, the Metaverse and other physical or virtual spaces. The court also addressed an online publication carrying a statement allegedly attributed to Tabu that she denied making, calling its continued publication an "egregious act" and directing its removal within three days.

The court issued separate takedown directions to Google, Meta, X, eBay and Reddit, requiring the concerned platforms to comply within 36 hours of receiving the order. The case also involves an Instagram account allegedly offering bookings for Tabu without her authorisation and merchandise featuring her photographs, including mugs, posters, calendars, hoodies and sweatshirts. Referring to earlier Delhi High Court decisions on personality rights, the court noted that unauthorised commercial exploitation can affect not only a celebrity’s commercial interests but also privacy, personality and dignity. The ruling therefore marks an important step in addressing the emerging challenges created by AI-generated content, deepfakes and other technologies capable of exploiting a public figure’s identity without consent.