The Supreme Court on Friday refused to entertain a plea concerning the circulation of AI-generated deepfake videos of Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, who led the press briefings on Operation Sindoor.
The top court directed the petitioner to approach the Delhi High Court where similar issues were already under active consideration.
A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh acknowledged the gravity of the issue, but emphasised the need to avoid parallel proceedings.
“We are not saying it is not a serious issue. But the Delhi High Court has been hearing this matter for a couple of years. If we entertain this petition, the High Court will stop hearing the pending matter and all its hard work over the years will go in vain,” the bench said.
Petitioner-in-person Narendra Kumar Goswami, a member of the Bar Council, said he was deeply disturbed by the circulation of fake and obscene videos featuring Colonel Qureshi. He urged the top court to constitute a court-monitored expert panel to draft a model law addressing the misuse of deepfake technology.
However, the bench was firm in its view that the matter was best addressed in the ongoing proceedings before the Delhi High Court, which is hearing related cases.
“By the time you leave this court there will be another video. There is no point talking about it here. These criminals are faster than regulatory mechanisms. This is being considered at another forum. Please go there and intervene,” the bench said.
The bench also pointed to the petitioner’s possible media motives, saying, “You are a member of the Bar Council. You want to go outside and speak on camera. That’s why you have come here.”
The court further requested the Delhi High Court to “accord audience to the petitioner and consider the valuable suggestions that may be given by him”.
Tune In