In a recent landmark order, the Delhi High Court passed a John Doe order to stop the unauthorized creation and circulation of deepfake videos of popular YouTuber and finance influencer Ankur Warikoo. The court took a firm stance against the use of his image, name, voice, and identity in fake videos being spread on social media platforms.
Justice Amit Bansal clearly stated:
“No one shall misuse Ankur Warikoo’s name, image, videos, voice, or any part of his identity, directly or indirectly, for any illegal commercial or personal gain — especially through AI or deepfake technology.”
These deepfakes falsely showed Warikoo promoting investment advice and encouraging viewers to join suspicious WhatsApp groups. Many innocent investors were misled, believing the videos were genuine, and suffered financial losses.
“Irreparable loss, harm and injury would be caused to the plaintiffs if the defendants are allowed to continue publishing or circulating the deepfake content,”
— Delhi High Court
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Warikoo, known for his personal finance advice and content creation, has over 15.1 million followers and is a recognized figure in the digital education space. The misuse of his persona not only harmed his reputation but also misled the public.
The Court directed the immediate removal of such content from Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp within 36 hours. It also ordered these platforms to share the details — such as IP address, email, and phone numbers — of those involved in spreading the content.
“If any further deepfake content is found, the plaintiffs can request takedown within 36 hours, or approach the court for further orders,”
— Delhi High Court
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Despite complaints made to Meta (owner of Instagram and WhatsApp), many videos remained live, highlighting the lack of swift action by the platforms. Warikoo had also filed formal complaints with the Cyber Crime Cell and the Grievance Appellate Committee, but the response was unsatisfactory.
The Court also recognized that the deepfakes were designed to trick people into risky financial investments. It expressed concern over how such AI-generated content can damage not just the reputation of individuals but also lead to large-scale scams.
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Justice Bansal passed an interim injunction restraining any further misuse and unauthorized publication. The case will be further heard on October 8, 2025.
“The content created by Ankur Warikoo is purely educational. He has never provided stock-buying tips. These deepfakes are deceptive and harmful.”
— Delhi High Court Observation
Title: ANKUR WARIKOO & ANR v. JOHN DOE & ORS.
