- By Sukanya Saha
- Thu, 20 Apr 2023 02:59 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
The Delhi High Court issued a directive on Thursday to multiple YouTube channels, ordering them to immediately remove any videos or images that spread fake news about Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan's daughter, Aradhya Bachchan's health. The lawsuit claimed that the videos being circulated on these channels were entirely false.
Justice C Harishankar also stated that every child, regardless of their family's celebrity status or not, has the right to be treated with dignity and respect. The dissemination of false information, especially regarding a child's physical and mental health, is unacceptable and illegal.
Justice C Harishankar of the court acknowledged that Aaradhya is the granddaughter of Bollywood icons Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan and the daughter of Abhishek and Aishwarya.
After considering the detailed submissions, the judge summoned Google LLC and various entities operating YouTube channels. The bench provided interim instructions, stating that Google LLC is legally obligated to ensure strict adherence to the complete statutory regulations governing intermediaries, including the IT Rules 2021.
The court also ordered the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (Meity) to ensure that access to content uploaded by defendants such as Bollywood Time, Bollywood Chingari, Bolly Station HD, Bollywood Station, Bollywood Shine, Bolly Pakora, Bolly Samosa, Bolly Ocean, and Hollywood Stars, as well as any other similar videos or clips containing similar content, is blocked upon the plaintiff's notification.
The court stated that if Abhishek Bachchan reports to Google about any other video on YouTube related to the health of Aaradhya, then it must immediately remove the video's URL. The court issued the interim order on an application by Abhishek and Aaradhya, where it found a prima facie case in favour of the plaintiffs and against the defendants, justifying the grant of ad interim relief.
Dayan Krishnan, representing the Bachchans, argued that social media has made it easy to damage the reputation of public figures, and this case is an example of a child being harmed as a result. The court also noted that it is unacceptable to spread misinformation about a child's health, regardless of whether they are a celebrity or not.
The court ordered Google LLC and several entities operating channels on YouTube to take down false videos regarding Aaradhya's health immediately. Additionally, the court directed the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (Meity) to disable access to channels named in the suit, as well as any similar videos or clips with similar content, upon notice from the plaintiffs.
The Plaintiffs' (Aaradhya Bachchan) images and personal information have been used by the defendants without their consent or any license to do so. The dissemination of news about Aaradhya's health or the personal and private lives of the Bachchan family members by the defendants is not authorised.
According to the lawsuit, the Plaintiffs claim that their right to privacy has been violated, particularly for Plaintiff (Aaradhya), who is only 11 years old. If such videos and content remain accessible to the public, it could cause serious harm to her mental and physical well-being. The lawsuit also clarifies that Aaradhya is in good health and was present at public events with her mother when these clips were created or uploaded, contrary to the content of the videos.