AI platforms will not be able to use Arijit's name, voice and pictures, singer gets relief

Singer Arijit Singh has a huge fan following not only in India but all over the world. Now recently, giving relief to musician-singer Arijit Singh, the Bombay High Court has said that AI tools that create content using the voice, and image of a celebrity without consent violate his personality rights. Let us know what the whole matter is.

Hearing a petition filed by the singer, Justice RI Chhagla in his interim order on July 26 restrained eight online platforms from using the personality rights of Arijit Singh and directed them to remove all such content and voice conversion tools. The singer had approached the court claiming that these platforms provide AI tools to edit voice recordings by imitating his voice, mannerisms, and the rest.

Singer's lawyer Hiren Kamod said that Arijit Singh has not deliberately promoted any kind of brand for the last several years. The High Court agreed that Arijit Singh should be given interim relief. The judge said, "What shocks this court is how celebrities are aware of being targeted by unauthorized generator AI content." Justice Chagla said, "Freedom of speech and expression allows criticism and comment, but does not give license to exploit the personality of a celebrity for commercial gain. Moreover, such use of AI technology also weakens the right of celebrities to prevent "deceptive use of their identity". It found that such platforms are encouraging internet users to create fake sound recordings and videos."