Chandigarh court directs Meta to remove AI-generated video of Punjab MLA Sukhpal Khaira

A Chandigarh court has directed Meta platforms to remove from Facebook and Instagram a morphed and artificial intelligence-generated video depicting Punjab MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira in an off-shoulder women’s dress.

Civil Judge (Junior Division) Kaushal Kumar Yadav passed the ad interim order on August 12 after finding that Khaira had made out a prima facie case for an injunction.

“The content uploaded is apparently defamatory, objectionable and AI generated,” the Court said.

The Court added that Khaira would suffer irreparable loss and injury if the content continued to remain accessible and circulate on public platforms.

The court directed Meta, its agents and representatives to disable access to the identified video and posts uploaded on the Facebook page “Charda Punjab” and Instagram account “Chard_apunjab”.

The content and identified URLs must be removed within 72 hours of Meta receiving the order, the Court directed.

Khaira, who represents the Bholath constituency in the Punjab Legislative Assembly, filed the suit seeking permanent and mandatory injunctions, protection of his reputation, dignity and personality rights.

According to the suit, the operators of the accounts circulated a digitally manipulated video in which Khaira’s recognisable face, beard and turbaned Sikh appearance were superimposed on an artificially generated body wearing an off-shoulder women’s dress.

Khaira claimed that the video had been widely circulated and damaged his reputation globally. His counsel also highlighted objections raised over the use of his turbaned Sikh appearance.

Since the identities and addresses of the account operators were unknown, Khaira impleaded them as Ashok Kumar or John Doe defendants (unknown entities). He also sought a direction to Meta to disclose their basic subscriber information

Meta submitted that it was an intermediary with no personal knowledge of the content and would comply with the court’s directions.

While granting the interim takedown relief, the court did not expressly allow the request for subscriber information.

The matter will be heard next on September 14.

Advocate Sarabjot Singh Cheema represented Khaira.

Advocate Abhijeet Singh Rawaley appeared for Meta.

[Read Order]