Delhi HC Orders Google, Meta & X to Remove Fake Sunil Gavaskar Content

Legal Victory for Sunil Gavaskar as High Court Targets Identity Misuse on Social Media

Cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar has recently filed a complaint for protection against entities using his photo and name to spread misinformation. The Delhi High Court has ordered tech giants Google, X, Meta, and e-commerce platforms to remove the fake content and altered photos as early as possible. Explore HC’s stance on the rapidly growing concern of fake news.

Key Legal Directives

Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora directed Google, Meta, and X to take quick action. These firms are ordered to remove fake content and infringing links. The HC has also asked social media users to delete these URLs in 72 hours. If they do not, the platforms can intervene and block the content.

The court also ordered e-commerce sites to stop selling fake merchandise. This includes items with forged autographs. During the case, the court noted that "humour and satire have space on social media." However, the judge ruled that protecting publicity rights is a priority. This directive creates a clear timeline for platforms to fix digital misuse.

Protection of Personality Rights

Sunil Gavaskar is the first Indian cricketer to legally protect his personality rights. He sued to stop the misuse of his name, voice, and image. The lawsuit targets fake social media posts and fabricated quotes. His lawyers said fake quotes "seriously jeopardise his credibility as a broadcaster and cricket commentator." The court has also banned the use of his traits through AI or deepfakes.

Gavaskar joins stars like Amitabh Bachchan and Anil Kapoor in getting these protections. This ruling ensures no one can exploit a public figure’s image for money without their consent. It ensures their identity remains safe from digital manipulation or unauthorized commercial use.

The case marks a shift toward the "intellectual safety of sports history." The court is doing more than just protecting a face or a voice. If AI can fake a veteran’s opinion, the history of cricket can become unreliable. This ruling creates a new "Digital Right of Integrity" for experts. It prevents bad actors from rewriting a professional’s legacy through synthetic media.