Delhi HC Orders Meta to Remove Morphed Photo of Woman with PM Immediately

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Friday directed Meta Platforms to immediately remove an objectionable morphed image of a woman with Prime Minister Narendra Modi from social media.

Justice Girish Kathpalia observed that this is an extraordinary position in which the matter is not of one woman but also of the country’s prime minister. The judge noted if the Delhi Police is not sensitive about it, the court will ensure it becomes sensitive.

The High Court also issued notices to Cockroach Janta Party leaders Saurav Das, Abhijit Dipke, Ashutosh Ranka and Ratna Singh on the woman’s plea alleging that they circulated her morphed, explicit image with the Prime Minister.

The court, which listed the matter for hearing on October 14, directed the police to give complete police protection to the woman who submitted that she was receiving threats to her life. The woman's plea accused the CJP leaders of morphing and circulating her deepfake vulgar pictures with Modi.

The plea sought the removal of fabricated images purportedly showing the woman’s face in vulgar pictures with the Prime Minister. Her lawyer said an FIR had been registered but argued that no concrete steps had been taken to apprehend those responsible or remove the links.

The plea said: “During recent protests held by the Cockroach Janta Party at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, respondents No. 2 to 5 (CJP leaders) along with their active accomplices-unauthorisedly harvested the personal photograph of the petitioner and utilised Artificial Intelligence face-swapping tools to morph her face onto a highly vulgar, compromising image alongside the Prime Minister of India.”