Patna High Court Orders Congress to Remove Controversial AI-Generated Video of PM Modi and His Late Mother

In a major ruling, the Patna High Court has directed the Indian National Congress to remove a controversial AI-generated video depicting PM Narendra Modi and his late mother from all social media platforms. The order comes after a petition was filed against the clip.

PATNA – In a significant ruling that sits at the crossroads of technology, law, and politics, the Patna High Court on Wednesday directed the Indian National Congress to immediately remove an AI-generated video featuring Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his late mother, Heeraben Modi, from all its social media handles.
The court’s intervention comes after a petition was filed challenging the video, which had sparked a considerable political and ethical debate online. This order is being seen as a landmark moment in the ongoing battle against the misuse of artificial intelligence in political campaigning.
The Court’s Directive and the Controversial Clip
The High Court issued the directive after hearing a petition that argued the video was misleading and created in poor taste to tarnish the Prime Minister’s image. The video in question, which gained traction on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook, used AI to create a depiction of the Prime Minister in a scene with his deceased mother.
While the exact content of the video was not detailed in the initial court order, the petitioner contended that using the likeness of a revered family member for political messaging was a violation of ethical and moral boundaries. The court found merit in the petitioner’s initial arguments, leading to the interim order for the video’s immediate takedown pending a full hearing.
The Growing Challenge of AI and Deepfakes in Politics
This case highlights the growing challenge that regulatory bodies and the judiciary face with the proliferation of AI-generated content, or “deepfakes,” in the political arena. While AI can be used for creative expression, experts have long warned of its potential to spread misinformation, create malicious propaganda, and manipulate public opinion by blurring the line between reality and fiction.
The Patna High Court’s swift action is one of the first high-profile instances of judicial intervention to curb the use of such technology in a political context in India, setting a potential precedent for future cases.
Legal and Political Ramifications
The court’s decision has immediate and significant consequences:
For the Congress Party: The order is a legal and public relations setback, forcing them to retract content from their social media campaign. The ruling provides political ammunition to the ruling BJP, which has accused the opposition of resorting to unethical tactics.
For Legal Precedent: This ruling will likely be cited in future cases concerning digital media ethics and the regulation of AI in public discourse. It brings to the forefront the need for clearer guidelines under the Information Technology (IT) Act to handle such sophisticated forms of content.
Political analysts suggest the fallout from this controversy will continue, as the use of AI in the upcoming election cycles is expected to increase. The Election Commission of India and lawmakers are now under greater pressure to formulate a clear framework to govern the use of AI-generated content in political advertising and messaging.
The Indian National Congress has yet to issue an official statement in response to the Patna High Court’s order.

Keywords: Patna High Court, Congress AI video, PM Modi video, AI-generated video, political deepfake, legal news India, PM Modi mother, social media regulation, Information Technology Act.