Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari has filed a defamation suit in the Bombay High Court against AI-generated deepfake videos and misleading social media posts. These posts falsely connect him and his family to the government’s E20 ethanol blending policy. The High Court has accepted the petition and set a hearing date for Gadkari’s request for interim relief.
Gadkari has named social media platforms Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, as respondents in the case. The petition highlights that various social media posts and videos are spreading misinformation by alleging that Gadkari and his family have gained financially from the ethanol blending program. The minister has strongly refuted these claims, labeling them as baseless and defamatory.
According to Gadkari’s petition, the E20 ethanol blending policy falls under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, not his Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. He argues that the accusations are factually incorrect and are an attempt to mislead the public and tarnish his reputation. Seeking immediate removal of the disputed content, Gadkari also asks for orders to prevent further dissemination and legal action against those responsible for the defamatory material.
The E20 program is a significant part of the government’s energy transition strategy, aiming to reduce India’s reliance on imported oil, cut vehicular emissions, and boost domestic biofuel production. By promoting ethanol blending, the government aims to enhance energy security and decrease the nation’s carbon footprint.
