Court orders Google to use its technology against ads claiming Sadhguru’s fake arrest

The Delhi High Court on 14th October  directed Google to use its technology to counter fake advertisements using Sadhguru’s AI generated images. This was in response to Sadhguru and Isha Foundation highlighting Google’s failure to prevent the continued misuse of Sadhguru's name, image, and videos through misleading AI deepfake advertisements, including the ad of Sadhguru’s fake arrest, on its video sharing platform YouTube.

The single judge bench of Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora told Google that publishing such advertisements showing fake arrest of Sadhguru should be stopped. The Court ordered Google to use its technology to address the issue and if it has any limitations or reservations with regard to use of its technology then to file an affidavit in court detailing the reasons. The Court further directed Google and Isha to meet and jointly discuss the issue and arrive at a solution such that Isha Foundation need not repeatedly reach out for removal of such content. 

It was brought to the Court’s notice that Google has a policy against publishing clickbait advertisements using negative life events like arrest, death etc and it was not following the same. Also it was pointed out that as per the Intermediary rules, Google is obligated to deploy technology-based measures, including automated tools or other mechanisms to proactively identify information which is identical/similar in content to information that has previously been removed due to a court order.

Earlier, Sadhguru and Isha Foundation had approached the Delhi High Court by filing a suit against all unknown channels and social media intermediaries where Sadhguru's personality rights were being violated with fake and misleading videos, posts and advertisements. The Delhi High Court, through its order dated 30 May 2025, granted protection to Sadhguru’s personality rights and directed Google to suspend, take down, and disable such infringing channels and content.

However, despite the Court order, there had been a surge in fake advertisements on YouTube. These included fraudulent ads falsely claiming Sadhguru's arrest and doctored videos showing him promoting fake investment schemes.