Patna HC directs removal of AI generated video of PM Modi, his mother

NEW DELHI: The Patna High Court on Wednesday directed for removal of the AI-generated ‘deep fake’ video of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his deceased mother Heeraben Modi.

A bench of acting Chief Justice P B Bajanthri and Justice Alok Kumar Sinha asked all social media intermediaries to stop the circulation of the video in view of the various Supreme Court judgments that have held the right to privacy and dignity as integral to the fundamental rights of a person.

The court also issued notices to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Bihar Congress, Election Commission of India, as well as, the central and the Bihar governments in this regard on a Public Interest Litigation filed by Vivekanand Singh.

“To avoid further damages, if any, the respondents - number six to eight – are hereby directed not to circulate the subject video clipping from here afterwards until further orders to be passed by this court,” the bench ordered.

Respondents number six to eight listed in the petition are Meta Platforms (Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp), Google India (YouTube), and X (formerly Twitter) India.

The video, which was allegedly circulated by the Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee (BPCC) showed the Prime Minister being scolded by his mother over his public policies, including demonetisation.

Singh, in the PIL, had asserted that the video was disrespectful and damaged the dignity of Heeraben. He said that it was circulated with the full knowledge of Rahul.

Appearing for the petitioner, advocate Santosh Kumar pointed out that the video coincided with the Pitri Paksha (the fortnight dedicated to deceased parents and ancestors), during which the Prime Minister was performing rituals for his late mother, and was the worst kind of slander.

The AI video, which was posted by one of the X (formerly Twitter) handles of the Congress, had triggered a severe row between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress. It also drew sharp criticism from different sections of the society, and was deleted later on.

However, the video went viral, and were still being circulated on various social media platforms.

The BJP Delhi election cell convenor Sanket Gupta registered an FIR (First Information Report) against Congress leaders later on for disseminating an AI-generated video that allegedly maligned the reputation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his late mother.

The police applied multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, specifically Sections 18(2), 336(3), 336(4), 340(2), 352, 356(2), and 61(2) in the FIR.

The Congress party claimed that it has not shown any disrespect towards the Prime Minister or his mother. Its Bihar unit has initiated an internal inquiry into the issue.

The party had previously faced the flak when a video of a youth hurling vile abuses on the Prime Minister from a dais during Rahul’s Voter Adhikar Yatra in Darbhanga surfaced. 

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