Bombay HC permits Preity Zinta to sue Google, Meta over AI deepfakes

The Bombay High Court has granted actor and entrepreneur Preity Zinta permission to file a civil suit against Google LLC, Meta Platforms Inc., X Corp and several other digital entities over alleged AI-generated deepfakes and manipulated online content that she claims infringes her rights.

An order was passed by Justice Abhay Ahuja on June 16 which allows Zinta to formally file her civil suit before the Bombay High Court.

Zinta's proposed suit concerns AI-generated deepfake videos, manipulated images, memes, AI chatbot personas and other digital content that she alleges violates her personality rights, copyright and moral rights, while also damaging her reputation and goodwill.

Appearing for Zinta, advocate Rohan Kadam argued that the respondents had made the allegedly infringing content widely accessible online.

He submitted that the platforms had, through AI-generated deepfake videos, manipulated images, memes, AI chatbot personas and other digital content, "created, uploaded, disseminated and made available to the general public" material that infringed Zinta's



legal rights.

Kadam further told the court that Zinta is an Indian citizen who primarily resides and works in Mumbai. He argued that her goodwill, reputation and commercial persona are rooted within the jurisdiction of the Bombay High Court, making it the appropriate forum to hear the matter.

The court noted that the allegedly infringing content was available not just in Mumbai, but across the world. Zinta's lawyer argued that while part of the case falls under the Bombay High Court's jurisdiction, several of the companies are based outside Mumbai and the content was shared online.

With the court's permission, Zinta can now formally institute the civil suit. Her legal team is seeking permanent injunctions restraining the platforms from hosting the allegedly infringing content, along with financial damages.

Meanwhile, on the work front, Preity Zinta is set to return to the big screen with Batwara 1947, co-starring Sunny Deol and his son Karan Deol, Shabana Azmi and Ali Fazal.

The film is set to release in theatres on August 14.