Delhi High Court Declines Directives On Deep Fake Ban Amidst Lok Sabha Elections

The Delhi High Court has declined to issue directives to the Election Commission concerning a petition urging a ban on the dissemination of deep fake videos intended to influence the Lok Sabha elections. In its ruling, the court stated that it would not be appropriate to intervene during the ongoing elections and expressed confidence in the Commission’s ability to address such matters independently. The court advised the petitioner to submit a memorandum directly to the Election Commission outlining their demands and urged the Commission to promptly review the petitioner’s submission given the urgency of the issue.

During the court proceedings, the Election Commission assured the Delhi High Court that it would take necessary measures to address the issue of deep fake videos. The bench, headed by Acting Chief Justice Manmohan, issued this directive following deliberations on the case. Notably, the petition was filed by a group of lawyers, with petitioner’s counsel Jayant Mehta urging the court to direct the Election Commission to halt the dissemination of election-related deep fake videos.

Mehta informed the court about the ongoing spread of deep fakes during the elections and highlighted the urgency of the matter. He mentioned that a group of lawyers had also approached the Election Commission regarding this issue. In response, the court inquired whether the petitioners had contacted the social media platforms’ grievance redressal officers, to which Mehta stated that they had taken all available actions.

Emphasizing the detrimental effects of delayed action, Mehta underscored that the damage caused by the spread of deep fake videos is often irreversible, as it typically takes 24 to 48 hours for such content to be removed. The court’s decision underscores the complexities surrounding the regulation of digital misinformation during electoral processes, prompting a call for concerted efforts to address emerging challenges in safeguarding democratic processes from technological manipulation.

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