Delhi HC Directs Google To Remove Deepfake, Misleading Content Targeting Sadhguru

The Delhi High Court has directed Google to use its technology to remove misleading and AI-generated deepfake content infringing upon the personality rights of spiritual leader Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, the Indian Express reported.

Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora, while hearing a plea by Sadhguru and the Isha Foundation on 14 October, asked both parties to meet so that the plaintiff could identify specific content violating Google Ads policies.

The court said Google “must make an endeavour to ensure that the identical or similar content is removed through its technology so as to obviate the plaintiff’s onus of looking out for such URLs.”

It added that if the company faced any “technological limitations,” it could file an affidavit.

Sadhguru’s counsel highlighted a YouTube video that was a gross misrepresentation, calling it a “misleading representation identified by Google Ads products in its advertisement policy.”

The lawyer also cited the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, arguing that Google should deploy tools to identify and prevent repeated uploads of identical fake content.

Google’s counsel said the company was willing to work collaboratively with the Isha Foundation and would act promptly on flagged content.

The case stems from an incident earlier this year when a 57-year-old Bengaluru woman lost Rs 3.75 crore to scammers who used an AI-generated deepfake of Sadhguru to promote fake investment schemes.

Despite a 30 May court order directing Google to remove such infringing content, the Isha Foundation said fake videos continued to circulate — including ones falsely claiming Sadhguru’s arrest.

The Foundation urged the public to stay alert and report such “scam” or “misleading” content.

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