New Delhi, October 28 (Udaipur Kiran) — The Delhi High Court has directed the removal of an AI-generated video that falsely claimed guests were poisoned by employees of the Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur. The court observed that the contents of the video were “prima facie false” and damaging to the hotel’s reputation.
Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora, in an order passed on October 15, said, “This court finds merit in the submission of the plaintiff (The Indian Hotels Company Ltd) that circulation of such a false video directly infringes upon the plaintiff’s reputation and grossly misrepresents the plaintiff’s property Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur before the public.”
The interim order was passed in a suit filed by Tata Group’s Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL), which owns and operates the Taj hotel chain.
Earlier in March 2024, the TAJ brand was declared a well-known trademark by the High Court. The plaintiff informed the court that the Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur, had recently received three Michelin Keys in the Global Michelin Keys Selection on October 8, recognizing it among the world’s most remarkable hotels.
However, shortly after the announcement, IHCL discovered that a deepfake AI video had been circulated on the Instagram page ‘Travelagio’ titled “Staff poisoned wealthy guests for 6 months…”. The misleading post garnered over 20,000 views, along with numerous likes, shares, and comments before action was initiated.
The court’s directive reinforces the growing concern over the misuse of AI-generated content and its potential to harm individual and corporate reputations.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
