The Supreme Court gave a swift nod to sidestep a Public Interest Litigation demanding urgent action against the flood of deepfake videos. The petitioner, pointing to the rampant circulation of manipulated clips featuring Colonel Sofiya Qureshi—known for her role in the Army’s Operation Sindoor briefings—was told to take the matter to the Delhi High Court instead.
Justices Surya Kant and NK Singh made it clear: the issue is already under the Delhi High Court’s microscope, so duplicating proceedings at the apex court wasn’t necessary. They invited the petitioner to join as an intervenor there, ensuring his voice wouldn’t be silenced but must now be heard in the ongoing case.
This isn’t new. Back in March 2024, a PIL was filed in Delhi demanding the Election Commission curb deepfake videos during the Lok Sabha elections. The High Court, acknowledging the menace these fabricated videos pose, pressed the government for answers. When asked if any official body or committee was working on a solution, the government’s silence was met with a firm warning: if no action is taken, the court will step in and create one.
The battle against digital fakery rages on, but for now, the Supreme Court has passed the responsibility to the High Court’s doorstep. The fight to control deepfakes is far from over.