Current Affairs

Delhi High Court tells Meta to remove morphed photo with PM

2026-09-26 - ABikram Mondal

Court steps in on morphed image

The Delhi High Court directed Meta Platforms to remove a morphed photograph showing a woman with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The order came on September 25 and asked for immediate action on the content flagged as objectionable deepfake material.

Petitioners had approached the court over the image that combined the woman's photograph with that of the Prime Minister. The bench issued the direction after reviewing the material placed before it.

Meta was told to act without delay. The company must ensure the content does not remain accessible on its platforms. Sources close to the matter said the order was passed in a petition that highlighted privacy concerns.

The court also issued notice to certain leaders of the Citizens for Justice and Peace in connection with the same image. The notice seeks their response on how the material surfaced and spread.

Officials at the court registry confirmed the order was uploaded shortly after the hearing. No further directions on damages or compensation were mentioned in the initial order.

Background to the petition

The morphed image first appeared on social media platforms in recent days. It showed the woman in a setting that suggested proximity to the Prime Minister. Family members of the woman moved the court seeking removal and protection from further circulation.

Earlier complaints to the platform had not yielded quick results. The petitioners argued that the image violated their right to privacy and dignity. They cited existing guidelines on deepfakes issued by the government.

Meta responded in court that it follows a standard takedown process once a valid request is received. The company said it was reviewing the specific content after the court order.

Legal experts noted that Indian courts have in the past directed social media firms to act swiftly in cases involving morphed or fake content. The present order aligns with that approach.

The woman whose image was used has not made any public statement so far. Her family has requested privacy while the legal process continues.

Platform obligations under Indian law

Indian law requires social media intermediaries to remove content flagged as illegal within set timelines. Failure to comply can attract liability under the Information Technology Act.

The court order reinforces the expectation that platforms must act on judicial directions without waiting for further complaints. Meta has stated it maintains teams to handle such requests from Indian authorities and courts.

Similar orders have been passed in other cases involving celebrity images or political figures. Courts have emphasised that consent is essential before any likeness is used in this manner.

The government has been pushing for stricter rules on deepfakes. A draft amendment to the IT Rules is under discussion and is expected to tighten obligations on platforms.

Industry bodies say compliance costs are rising as more such petitions reach the courts. They have asked for clearer guidelines on what constitutes actionable content.

Reactions from political circles

Leaders across parties condemned the creation and circulation of the morphed image. They called it an attack on personal dignity that has no place in public discourse.

Some opposition figures linked the incident to the larger debate on misuse of technology during elections. They urged stricter enforcement of existing laws.

Government spokespersons said the court order sends a clear message that such acts will not be tolerated. They added that law enforcement agencies are examining the origin of the image.

Activists working on digital rights welcomed the swift judicial intervention. They said it sets a useful precedent for future cases involving non-consensual morphed content.

No arrests have been reported yet in connection with the creation of the image. Police in Delhi are understood to be tracing the source through platform records.

Broader context on deepfakes

Deepfake technology has made it easier to create realistic altered images and videos. Cases involving public figures have increased in the last two years.

Experts point out that detection tools are improving but are not foolproof. They recommend a combination of platform responsibility and user awareness.

The Election Commission has also flagged concerns about morphed content during poll campaigns. It has issued advisories asking parties to avoid such material.

Training programmes for law enforcement on handling digital evidence have been scaled up. Several states now have dedicated cyber cells to deal with these complaints.

Global platforms are investing in AI-based detection systems to flag potential deepfakes before they go viral. Results so far have been mixed.

Other developments on the day

In a separate economic update, the government announced it will borrow Rs 7.86 lakh crore in the second half of the current fiscal year. The figure represents a reduction in overall borrowing targets for FY27.

Foreign direct investment inflows rose 6 per cent to USD 19.81 billion in the April-June quarter, data from the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade showed. Inflows from the United States declined sharply during the same period.

At the Asian Games, Indian shooters and other athletes continued to add medals. The focus remained on team events in shooting and combat sports.

Rain warnings remain in place for parts of eastern India. The India Meteorological Department has issued alerts for heavy rainfall in several states over the next few days.

Foreign Minister S Jaishankar is scheduled to address the United Nations General Assembly later in the week. Preparations for bilateral meetings on the sidelines are under way.

The short version. The Delhi High Court has ordered Meta to immediately remove a morphed image of a woman with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Sources

Reported from the sources above on 2026-09-26. Figures are as published at the time of writing. If something here has moved on, the linked source is the one to trust.

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