Court Orders Removal of Shilpa Shetty’s AI-Generated Images

A court has strongly condemned the circulation of AI-generated images of Bollywood actor Shilpa Shetty, calling them “extremely disturbing and shocking,” and has ordered their immediate deletion from online platforms. The ruling marks a significant legal intervention against the misuse of artificial intelligence to create morphed and misleading content involving public figures.

During the hearing, the court observed that the images were not only invasive but also damaging to an individual’s dignity, reputation, and right to privacy. It underscored that the use of AI tools to generate such content without consent amounts to a serious violation of personal rights, regardless of the subject’s celebrity status.

The court directed social media platforms and intermediaries to promptly take down the objectionable content and ensure that similar material is not re-uploaded. It also warned that failure to comply could invite strict legal consequences under existing IT and criminal laws.

Legal experts say the order reflects growing judicial concern over deepfakes and synthetic media, which are increasingly being weaponised for harassment, defamation, and exploitation. While technology has advanced rapidly, safeguards and accountability mechanisms are still catching up.

The case is being seen as a precedent in India’s evolving legal approach to AI misuse. It reinforces the message that technological innovation cannot come at the cost of fundamental rights, and that courts are prepared to act decisively to protect individuals from digital abuse.