Delhi HC Orders Google to Remove Misleading Deep-fakes Involving Sadhguru

The Delhi High Court has directed Google LLC to deploy technological tools and proactively remove misleading and AI-generated content involving Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, founder of Isha Foundation.The court flagged persistent fake YouTube advertisements falsely claiming his arrest and other doctored visuals that misuse his likeness and reputation.

Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora emphasised that Google must work in collaboration with the plaintiff to establish a mechanism for identifying and removing harmful content, so that Sadhguru need not repeatedly flag each instance. Under the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, platforms are obliged to use tech-based solutions for content moderation—an obligation Google must meet or explain via affidavit if it cannot. 

This landmark directive highlights the challenges posed by sophisticated deep-fake campaigns in the digital era. It underlines how celebrity and public-figure identity rights are vulnerable in online environments where AI-generated material can damage reputations and facilitate scams. The judgment raises critical questions about the adequacy of platform policies in practice and offers a blueprint for legal accountability in content moderation frameworks. For Internet users and intermediaries alike, the case emphasises the urgency of robust, technology-driven safeguards to preserve trust and authenticity online.