Bollywood stars Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan are fighting to protect their voice and persona in a New Delhi court, amid growing concerns over artificial intelligence's impact on personality rights. The couple's legal battle targets Google's video arm YouTube, with court filings spanning 1,500 pages that mostly address unauthorized physical merchandise and AI-generated content.
The Bachchans are seeking $450,000 in damages against Google and others, as well as a permanent injunction against such exploitation. They argue that YouTube's content and third-party training policy is concerning, as it allows users to share videos created to train rival AI models, potentially spreading misleading content online.
This high-profile case highlights the interplay of personality rights and AI-generated content, with the potential to set a precedent for future cases. Indian courts have started backing Bollywood stars upset about generative AI content damaging their reputation, including a 2023 Delhi court ruling that restrained the misuse of Anil Kapoor's image, voice, and catchphrase.
The judge in early September ordered 518 website links and posts listed by the actors to be taken down, citing financial harm and damage to their dignity and goodwill. The Bachchans' lawsuit could impact how YouTube handles video sharing with consent and potentially prompt changes to the platform's user policies.
