Delhi High Court Orders Takedown of Derogatory Online Content on Actress Tabu

India: The Delhi High Court has granted interim relief to Bollywood actress Tabu, directing major online platforms to take down derogatory, obscene and unauthorised content using her name, image and other personality attributes.

Justice Jyoti Singh passed the ex-parte interim order on August 6 in a suit filed by the actress (Tabassum Jamal Hashmi) seeking protection of her personality and publicity rights. The order restrains the misuse, exploitation or misappropriation of her stage name ‘Tabu’, real name, voice, images, photographs, movie stills, signatures and other attributes, including through AI-generated content, deepfakes, face morphing and similar digital technologies.

The Court directed intermediaries including Google, Meta (Facebook and Instagram), X, Reddit, eBay and GoDaddy to remove or disable access to the infringing webpages and URLs within 36 hours of receiving the order. More than 150 specific URLs across these platforms have been identified for takedown. Platforms have also been asked to disclose basic subscriber information and IP log details of anonymous uploaders within three weeks.

Tabu approached the Court against the circulation of AI-generated obscene and pornographic material, unauthorised commercial use of her identity, sale of merchandise bearing her name or likeness, and false claims of bookings for her performances. The Court noted her wide popularity and held that she had made out a prima facie case, with the balance of convenience in her favour and a risk of irreparable harm to her reputation, goodwill and commercial value if interim protection was not granted.

The matter is listed for further hearing on December 7. Similar personality-rights protections have previously been granted by the Delhi High Court to several other public figures, including actors, cricketers and politicians.