The Delhi High Court has granted actor Tabu interim protection against unauthorised use of her name, image, voice, likeness and other personality attributes, including through artificial intelligence tools, deepfakes, face morphing and similar digital technologies.
According to ANI, Justice Jyoti Singh passed an ex-parte ad-interim injunction after hearing Tabu’s petition. The order is aimed at stopping the alleged misuse of her identity across websites, social media platforms, online marketplaces and other digital spaces while the case continues.
Over 150 URLs ordered to be removed
The court directed several online platforms to remove or disable access to identified URLs that were alleged to contain unauthorised or objectionable material linked to Tabu. The order covers more than 150 URLs in total.
Google has been asked to remove 21, eight and five URLs listed across three separate sets within 36 hours. Meta has been directed to take down 73, 28 and five URLs across three documents within the same time period.
X Corp has been ordered to remove three identified URLs. eBay Inc has been asked to take down URLs mentioned at serial numbers 15 to 20 in one document. Reddit has also been directed to act within 36 hours.
The court further directed Google, Meta, X, Reddit and GoDaddy to disclose Basic Subscriber Information and IP log details linked to the relevant accounts. These details may help Tabu identify the people behind the alleged content.
What Tabu alleged in her suit
Tabu’s plea said her identity was being used without permission for commercial gain and for creating manipulated content. The allegations included fake event-booking accounts, unauthorised merchandise, fabricated statements and AI-generated or edited obscene material.
The suit stated that some scenes from her films were edited, slowed down or zoomed in on intimate portions and then circulated online to attract viewers and generate revenue. It also referred to an Instagram account with around 2,000 followers that allegedly used her name, photos and video clips to offer bookings for her appearances. Tabu said she had not authorised any such association.
Websites were also accused of selling products such as mugs, posters, calendars, hoodies and sweatshirts using her photographs. The court order also dealt with a publication that had allegedly carried a fabricated and disparaging statement attributed to the actor. Tabu said she never made that statement, even after her team issued clarifications to leading newspapers.
The court described that alleged publication of the statement as an egregious act and directed the concerned publisher to delete it from all its platforms within three days.
Court refers to personality rights cases
The court held that Tabu had made out a prima facie case for interim protection. It said the balance of convenience was in her favour and that she could suffer irreparable harm if protection was not granted at this stage.
Justice Singh noted that Tabu’s name, stage name, image, voice and likeness have acquired distinctiveness and are immediately associated with her by the public. The order covers her stage name Tabu, her real name Tabassum Jamal Hashmi, voice recordings, signatures, images and movie stills.
The restraint applies to misuse through artificial intelligence, Generative AI, Machine Learning, deepfakes, face morphing and GIFs. It also extends across websites, apps, social media platforms and the Metaverse.
The court referred to earlier Delhi High Court rulings involving personality rights, including D.M. Entertainment v. Baby Gift House, Anil Kapoor v. Simply Life India and Jaikishan Kakubhai Saraf v. Peppy Store. It observed that misuse of personality rights is not limited to commercial loss and can also affect privacy, personality and the right to live with dignity.
Suit to continue before the court
The order restrains Defendants 1 to 7, including unidentified John Does. The court also noted details of Tabu’s career and honours, including the Padma Shri and two National Awards, along with her social media following of around 3.2 million on Instagram.
The plaint has been registered as a commercial suit. The remaining defendants have been directed to file written statements within 30 days. The discovery application is returnable on December 7, 2026.
The interim injunction will remain in force until the next hearing, subject to further orders. The court has not made a final decision on the allegations raised in the suit.
Source: Bollywood Hungama.