Nitin Gadkari Sues Meta, Google Over Deepfake Videos

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has filed a civil suit against Meta, X, Google, and YouTube in the Bombay High Court over deepfake videos and social media posts that falsely claim he and his family have personally profited from India's E20 ethanol blending programme.

The court has granted him leave to file the suit, which names the tech giants as defendants, along with unidentified 'John Doe' entities and lists the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and the Department of Telecommunications.

Gadkari's petition alleges that unidentified persons have circulated AI-generated deepfake videos and social media posts portraying him as personally responsible for the E20 programme, with some content further alleging that he and his family have financially benefited from it.

The E20 programme, which blends 20 percent ethanol with petrol, was rolled out nationally from April 2023 and has been part of a policy in motion since 2013-14. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has stated that the programme has saved more than Rs. 1.97 lakh crore in foreign exchange, substituted nearly 316 lakh metric tonnes of crude oil, and transferred over Rs. 1.66 lakh crore to farmers since 2014-15.

Despite the government's positive data on the programme, there has been growing backlash against it, with complaints about reduced vehicle performance and engine failure. The government has maintained that more than 20 crore two-wheelers and over three crore petrol cars have run on E19-E20 blends without verified evidence of widespread engine failure.

Gadkari's argument is that the E20 programme is administered by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, not the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, which he heads. He claims that the allegations linking him and his family to E20 profits are 'false, malicious and grossly defamatory' and designed to create a misleading impression that he has misused public office for private gain.

The case highlights the growing concern over deepfake content and its potential to cause harm to individuals and institutions. It also underscores the need for tech giants to take responsibility for the content hosted on their platforms.

The outcome of the case will be closely watched, as it has implications for the regulation of social media and the protection of individuals from online harassment and defamation.

In the meantime, the government continues to defend the E20 programme, citing its benefits for the environment and the economy. However, the backlash against the programme is a reminder that public perception and trust are crucial for the success of any policy initiative.

The case is a significant development in the ongoing debate over the role of social media in shaping public opinion and the need for greater accountability from tech giants.

It remains to be seen how the court will rule in the case, but one thing is clear: the issue of deepfake content and online harassment is here to stay, and it will require a concerted effort from governments, tech giants, and individuals to address it effectively.