The Delhi High Court has ordered the removal of several Artificial Intelligence (AI)-generated social media posts by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) depicting Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta as a liquor vendor, hawker and delivery agent.
Justice Manoj Jain directed the social media platforms to remove the posts immediately. In its order, the Court noted that the posts, mainly uploaded by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), also showed the Chief Minister as the head of the purported Har Har Rekha or Ghar Ghar Theka scheme. Justice Jain said that these AI-generated videos and posts were not only defamatory and offensive but also attacked the dignity of a woman occupying a constitutional post.
Holding public office invites greater scrutiny but an individual’s dignity cannot be compromised, the Court underscored.
“Admittedly, any political party is entitled to criticise any governmental policy or decision or administrative action of the Government but in the garb of expression of disapproval of any such policy, the offensive portrayal of Chief Minister, with the assistance of AI-generated videos, hurting her very dignity can be, by no stretch of imagination, said to be in the realm of permissible political satire,” the Court observed. It then issued the interim direction to the social media platforms to remove the content.
The Court also issued notices and summons to AAP and other defendants. The ex parte order was passed on a defamation suit filed by CM Rekha Gupta.
She argued that AI-generated videos and images circulated by AAP were defamatory, vulgar and offensive, portraying her as a liquor vendor and delivery agent. Gupta contended that the content crossed the boundaries of permissible political satire, tarnished her dignity and moral character, and could cause irreparable harm. “Learned counsel for plaintiff submits that the prevalent facility merely permits a registered user to check stocks, book and pay online and then to collect the purchase in person from the vend and that there is no provision for home-delivery of liquor. It is submitted that impugned defamatory material shows the Chief Minister herself serving drinks to men at night, amidst a brawl and in the backdrop of a romantic soundtrack. The contents thereof, according to plaintiff, are highly stigmatic, disgraceful and defamatory.” While acknowledging the fact that in a free democratic Nation like ours, though anyone has freedom of speech and expression and many times, there would be political satires but the impugned contents are outside the purview of harmless satirical humor.