Telugu cinema icon Chiranjeevi has taken legal action against the creation and circulation of harmful AI-generated deepfake pornographic videos. He has lodged a formal complaint with the Hyderabad Cybercrime Police, citing severe emotional distress and damage to his reputation caused by these fabricated clips.
The actor stated in his complaint that the maliciously created videos portray him in obscene and vulgar contexts, distorting public perception and undermining his decades-long public image. He expressed that these acts cause immense personal and emotional suffering to him and his family, while also misleading the public with a false and defamatory narrative.
Chiranjeevi has urged the police to initiate a thorough criminal and technical investigation into the individuals responsible for creating, uploading, and distributing these deepfake videos. He has also requested the immediate blocking and removal of such content from all internet platforms and associated websites.
In response to Chiranjeevi’s complaint, the police have registered a case under various sections of the Information Technology Act (IT Act), the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986. The specific sections invoked include Sections 67 and 67A of the IT Act, Sections 79, 294, 296, and 336(4) of the BNS, and Sections 2(c), 3, and 4 of the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986.
This development follows a recent injunction granted by the Hyderabad City Civil Court, which protects Chiranjeevi’s personality rights. The court’s order prohibits the unauthorized use of his name, image, or voice for commercial or personal gain, including the creation of image memes and unauthorized merchandise sales.