Court orders Meta to remove AI-generated video of Punjab MLA Khaira
A court in Chandigarh, India ordered Meta Platforms to remove an AI-generated video that digitally manipulated the appearance of Punjab Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira and superimposed his face onto an artificially generated body in women's clothing, finding the content defamatory and harmful to his reputation.
What happened
A video depicting Punjab Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira was created using AI technology, wherein his face, beard and turbaned Sikh appearance were digitally manipulated and superimposed upon an artificially generated body shown in an off-shoulder women's dress.
The video was widely circulated on the Facebook page 'Charda Punjab' and Instagram account 'Charda_apunjab'. The Chandigarh District Court directed Meta Platforms to remove the video and disable access to it within 72 hours of receiving the court order.
Reported impact
Khaira stated that the video acquired massive circulation and caused damage to his reputation. He stressed the seriousness of the matter as certain viewers have objected to the manner in which the plaintiff's turbaned Sikh appearance has been used.
Index analysis
The court observed that the content uploaded was apparently defamatory, objectionable and AI-generated. The court found that Khaira would have suffered irreparable loss and injury if the impugned content continued to remain accessible and circulated on public platforms.
Governance controls
Meta's counsel submitted that the company is an intermediary with no personal knowledge about the contents, but shall abide by the court order. The court also directed that fresh notices be issued to two other defendants whose identities were not known.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.