Preity Zinta gets Bombay High Court nod to sue Google, Meta over AI deepfakes

The Bombay High Court on Tuesday permitted Bollywood actor Preity Zinta to sue Google LLC and others over alleged AI‑generated deepfake content that she claims violates her personality and copyright rights in addition to eroding her goodwill. [Preity Zinta v. Google LLC & Ors]

Justice Abhay Ahuja allowed Zinta’s leave petition under Clause XII of the Letters Patent, a procedural requirement when part of the cause of action arises outside the Court’s territorial jurisdiction.  

The order enables Zinta to institute a substantive civil suit on the original side of the Bombay High Court against Google LLC and several other entities, including social media platforms and websites.  

Zinta has alleged that the defendants - including Meta platforms and various websites - created, uploaded and disseminated AI‑generated deepfake videos, memes, manipulated images, chatbot personas and other digital content using her persona.  

She contends that these acts amount to breach of her personality rights, infringement of copyright, loss of immense goodwill and reputation and violation of her moral rights under Section 62 of the Copyright Act, 1957.  

It was argued that although the allegedly infringing material is disseminated globally via online platforms, Zinta is an Indian national who primarily resides and works for gain in Mumbai and that her goodwill and reputation are located within the Court’s jurisdiction.  

Since several respondents are based outside Mumbai and the online activities give rise to a cause of action both within and beyond the city, Zinta sought leave under Clause XII to file her suit in Bombay.  

Justice Ahuja accepted the submissions and granted leave to Zinta to file the proposed suit. 

The substantive suit for injunction and other reliefs against the alleged deepfake content will now proceed independently before the High Court.   

Advocate Rohan Kadam, briefed by B Munim & Co, appeared for Zinta.

[Read order]