Delhi High Court Directs Google, Meta and X to Remove Fake Content Misusing Sunil Gavaskar’s Identity
The Delhi High Court has directed Google, Meta and X (formerly Twitter) to promptly act on former cricketer Sunil Gavaskar’s requests to take down fake and misleading online content misusing his name, photographs and identity, reinforcing personality rights protection in the digital space.
New Delhi(Sunil Gavaskar v Cricket Tak (CricketTak557) and Ors].): In a significant ruling addressing the growing misuse of celebrity identity online, the Delhi High Court has directed major digital intermediaries—Google, Meta (Facebook) and X (formerly Twitter)—to promptly act on complaints raised by former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar regarding fake and misleading content circulating on their platforms.
The matter was heard by Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora, who observed that online platforms must respond efficiently and responsibly when credible complaints relating to misuse of personality rights are brought to their attention.
Directions Issued by the Delhi High Court
The Court treated the civil suit filed by Sunil Gavaskar as a formal complaint under the intermediary grievance mechanism and issued the following directions:
- The plaintiff must provide specific URLs of the alleged infringing content to the concerned platforms within 48 hours.
- Upon receipt of the URLs, the intermediaries are required to examine the complaints and take an appropriate decision within one week.
- The platforms must communicate their decision to the plaintiff after processing the takedown requests.
The Court further clarified that grievance redressal mechanisms under the Information Technology framework should be meaningfully utilised before seeking broader judicial intervention.
Background of the Case
Sunil Gavaskar approached the Delhi High Court alleging unauthorised and misleading use of his name, images and likeness across various online platforms. The disputed content reportedly included fabricated statements, misleading social media posts, and fake merchandise being sold under the impression of association with him.
The petitioner contended that such misuse not only violated his personality rights but also misled the public and caused reputational harm.
Personality Rights and Digital Misuse
Personality rights protect an individual’s name, image, likeness, voice and identity from unauthorised commercial or deceptive exploitation. Indian courts have increasingly recognised these rights, particularly in the digital era where misinformation spreads rapidly.
Several public figures, including film actors and artists, have previously sought judicial protection against identity misuse. Sunil Gavaskar is among the first international cricketers to pursue legal remedies for enforcement of personality rights in India.
Legal Significance of the Order
This order highlights the judiciary’s stance on intermediary accountability and reinforces the obligation of digital platforms to act on legitimate takedown requests within a reasonable timeframe. It also underscores the importance of structured grievance redressal mechanisms under the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.
The ruling serves as a reminder that while intermediaries enjoy certain legal protections, they are equally responsible for addressing verified complaints of identity misuse, impersonation and digital fraud.
This development marks an important step in strengthening personality rights protection and digital accountability in India’s evolving legal landscape.