T.V. TODAY NETWORK LIMITED [Plaintiff] Vs. GOOGLE LLC & ORS. [Defendants]
CS(COMM) 634/2025
CORAM: JUSTICE PRATHIBA M. SINGH
The Delhi High Court has ordered the immediate removal of a fraudulent YouTube channel impersonating Aaj Tak anchor Anjana Om Kashyap through the use of deepfake technology. The case involved a plea by TV Today Network Ltd., which sought an ad interim injunction to stop the misuse of Ms. Kashyap’s identity, image, and voice on digital platforms.
Justice Prathiba M. Singh, presiding over the matter, emphasized the severe implications of such impersonation. She observed that allowing fake YouTube channels to disseminate content under the guise of Ms. Kashyap not only violated her personality rights but also potentially misled the public. The Court clarified that even if the content on such platforms appeared original, it could not be shared by anyone other than the Plaintiffs, who hold the Broadcast Reproduction Rights for their content. Moreover, if the content is fabricated or deceptive, the reputation of the Plaintiff organization could be harmed due to a false association.
The lawsuit revealed that Anjana Om Kashyap, who serves as the Managing Editor (Special Projects) at TV Today Network, has an authentic YouTube channel titled ‘@AnjanaomKashyap-AOK’. However, unknown persons created a fake channel named ‘@AnajanaomKashya’ (intentionally misspelling her name) and uploaded doctored videos and clips that falsely appeared to feature her. The imposter channel even used her photograph and mimicked news-style presentations to gain traction by exploiting her public image.
Counsel for the Plaintiff argued that this fake page had been capitalizing on Ms. Kashyap’s goodwill and the brand value of the Plaintiff company, thereby causing reputational damage. They claimed this act not only violated her personality rights but also created the risk of misleading audiences with unverified or fabricated content. The Court concurred, stating that such impersonations lack editorial oversight, a critical component in news dissemination. Therefore, their existence could facilitate the spread of misinformation.
The Court specifically pointed out that small changes like omitting a single letter in a public figure’s name to create similar-looking profiles is a deceptive tactic, often used for monetization through digital platforms. It held that using Anjana Om Kashyap’s image, name, voice, and reputation for commercial gain without authorization is unlawful.
The bench also noted the widespread nature of this issue, acknowledging that fake channels can cause significant public confusion and damage to the integrity of journalistic platforms. In its order, the Court directed that the infringing YouTube channel be taken down and further instructed that if any additional fake pages are found, the Plaintiff should notify Defendant No. 1 (YouTube/Google LLC), who must ensure removal within 72 hours.
In conclusion, the Court granted the ad interim relief, recognizing a strong prima facie case in favor of the Plaintiffs. This ruling is a significant step toward curbing the misuse of deepfake technology and unauthorized digital impersonation of public figures, especially in the media industry.
