The Bombay High Court has granted Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, permission to proceed with legal action against major technology platforms Meta, X (formerly Twitter), and Google. The ruling allows Mr. Gadkari to sue these companies over the dissemination of alleged misleading and defamatory content, including deepfake videos, that targets him online.

Mr. Gadkari's petition specifically highlighted the circulation of material that he claims falsely associates him and his family with alleged financial gains derived from the Central government's E20 ethanol blending policy. The minister's legal challenge underscores concerns over the impact of artificial intelligence-generated deepfakes and other digital misinformation on public figures.

Central to Mr. Gadkari's complaint is his assertion that the E20 policy, which promotes the blending of 20 per cent ethanol with petrol, is formulated and administered by the Petroleum Ministry. This distinction is crucial to his defence, as he contends that any content linking him or his family to profits from this policy is fundamentally inaccurate and designed to defame.

The court's decision empowers Mr. Gadkari to take formal legal steps against the platforms for hosting and allowing the spread of content he deems harmful to his reputation. This move by a prominent Indian minister against global tech giants highlights the growing challenges posed by online misinformation and the increasing recourse public figures are taking to address such issues through judicial channels.

The legal proceedings are expected to scrutinise the responsibilities of social media companies and search engines in moderating content that could be misleading or defamatory, especially when involving advanced technologies like AI deepfakes. The case reflects a broader global debate on content moderation, user accountability, and the legal framework governing digital platforms.