Tabu Seeks Court Protection as AI Misuse Sparks Fresh Personality Rights Debate

Veteran Bollywood actor Tabu has approached the Delhi High Court seeking legal protection for her personality and publicity rights, adding to a growing list of public figures turning to the judiciary to combat identity misuse in the digital age. The move reflects increasing concern over how artificial intelligence and online platforms can be used to create misleading content featuring celebrities without their consent.

According to court proceedings, Tabu has requested protection against the unauthorized use of her name, photographs, likeness, and other identifiable personal attributes. Her petition raises concerns about digital impersonation, including AI-generated material and manipulated content that could falsely portray her as endorsing products, making statements, or appearing in fabricated videos.

During the initial hearing, the Delhi High Court directed corrections to the list of parties named in the case after identifying errors in the filings. The matter has been scheduled for a further hearing, where the court is expected to consider the revised documents and examine the relief sought by the actor. No final order has yet been issued.

The case has renewed attention on personality rights, which allow individuals to control the commercial and unauthorized use of aspects closely associated with their identity. These rights generally extend to elements such as a person's name, image, voice, signature, and other recognizable characteristics. While India does not have a single dedicated law governing personality rights, courts have increasingly relied on principles related to privacy, dignity, and unfair commercial exploitation to provide legal protection.

Advances in artificial intelligence have made these legal safeguards more significant than ever. Modern AI tools can generate highly convincing deepfake videos, cloned voices, and realistic digital images using publicly available content. Such material can spread rapidly across social media, creating false impressions that are often difficult for audiences to distinguish from genuine recordings. Legal experts have warned that these technologies can damage reputations, mislead consumers, and enable fraudulent endorsements before corrective action can be taken.

Tabu's petition also follows a broader trend in which several prominent personalities have sought judicial intervention against unauthorized digital use of their identities. In recent months, actors, sports personalities, media figures, and business leaders have approached the Delhi High Court seeking orders to prevent fake advertisements, AI-generated deepfakes, misleading online content, and unauthorized commercial exploitation of their names and images.

As artificial intelligence continues to reshape online content creation, legal disputes surrounding digital identity are expected to become more common. The outcome of Tabu's case could contribute to the evolving judicial approach toward balancing technological innovation with individual rights, particularly as courts address the growing challenges posed by AI-generated impersonation and online misinformation.