In a first-of-its-kind judgment in India, the Delhi High Court has ruled that AI-generated voice cloning without explicit consent amounts to a violation of personality rights and copyright infringement.
The case was filed by a prominent Bollywood actor whose voice had been replicated by a tech startup for commercial purposes in advertising and content creation.
Justice Arvind Bhalla stated in the ruling:
“A person’s voice is an extension of their identity and deserves the same protection as their image or signature.”
The court directed the tech firm to cease all activities involving the actor’s synthetic voice and imposed a ₹50 lakh fine for damages and legal costs.
This decision is expected to set a legal precedent for AI content regulation in India, especially with the rising use of deepfake technologies and synthetic media in entertainment and advertising.
Experts hailed the judgment as a step toward building a framework for ethical AI use, especially as generative tools gain popularity across industries.
Digital rights advocates now urge Parliament to pass comprehensive AI laws that balance innovation with protection of individual rights.
