Naga Chaitanya approaches Delhi HC to protect personality rights from ‘explicit’ AI content

Actor Naga Chaitanya's lawyer flagged content in the Delhi HC, which he says is damaging his image and violating his personality rights.

Actor Naga Chaitanya recently approached the Delhi High Court seeking protection of his personality rights. The suit was filed over the alleged unauthorised use of his name, image, unauthorised merchandise, AI-generated and pornographic content.

Naga Chaitanya has moved court against explicit AI content. (Photo: Instagram)

Naga Chaitanya fights explicit search terms and objectionable content

According to Chaitanya’s team, Justice Jyoti Singh heard the matter after Senior Advocate Vaibhav Gaggar, appearing for the actor, submitted that several websites were using his name alongside explicit search terms to attract traffic and circulate objectionable content. Concerns were raised over AI-generated and manipulated content, as well as defamatory material related to his personal life.

Senior Advocate Vaibhav Gaggar, appearing for the actor, submitted that one of the primary concerns relates to online content, including AI-generated videos and other material allegedly depicting the actor in a misleading and objectionable manner. He further informed the Court that certain content circulating on digital platforms makes false and defamatory allegations about the actor's personal life and professional conduct, causing reputational harm. “This is trolling, this is not fair criticism,” he argued.

What else does Naga Chaitanya’s complaint state?

The HC was also shown unauthorised listings of merchandise featuring Chaitanya’s likeness. His lawyer argued that the actor was a leading figure in the Telugu film industry with a successful acting career. It was also pointed out that the court had previously secured his father, Nagarjuna’s, personality rights.

The suit claims the usage of AI tools, deepfake technology, voice-cloning software and digital manipulation techniques to circulate fabricated audiovisual content for commercial gain. The content has caused serious harm to Chaitanya’s reputation, dignity, privacy, and public image, according to his suit. Defamatory YouTube videos on the actor were also flagged in court. While some links were removed, others pertaining to news reports remained up.

The judge observed that while public figures were exposed to scrutiny, it was not without limits. “You are in public life, you are certainly more vulnerable than the rest of the people, but it has its limitations,” said the court. According to the news agency, the court also remarked that one of the allegedly infringing links was ‘borderline’. Chaitanya’s lawyer argued that such content surfaces daily, urging for a dynamic injunction.

The matter has been listed for further hearing on September 30. The court issued a summons in the suit and indicated that it would pass an interim order. Chaitanya and Samantha Ruth Prabhu dated for years before marrying in 2017 and divorcing in 2021. He is now married to actor Sobhita Dhulipala, and she is married to filmmaker Raj Nidimoru.