Delhi HC restrains misuse of Tabu’s name, image; orders takedown of AI-generated obscene content

The Delhi High Court has granted interim protection to actor Tabassum Jamal Hashmi, popularly known as Tabu, against the unauthorised use of her name, image, voice and other personality attributes, including through artificial intelligence, deepfakes and face-morphing technologies.

Justice Jyoti Singh, in an order passed on August 6, said the actor was likely to suffer irreparable harm if protection was not granted.

The court’s order came on Ms. Tabu’s suit against several individuals and online platforms, alleging unauthorised exploitation of her personality rights, circulation of defamatory material, sale of merchandise using her photographs and dissemination of manipulated and AI-generated content.

The court noted that Ms. Tabu “is a world-renowned, critically acclaimed and celebrated actress, who has left a mark in the film industry, both in India and internationally, with her stellar performances over three decades”.