The Delhi High Court on Friday ordered the takedown of a YouTube channel, which was operating in the name of anchor and Managing Editor (Special Projects) of Aaj Tak, Anjana Om Kashyap.
The single-judge Bench of Justice Prathiba M Singh directed Google to take down the page within 48 hours. It further ordered the disclosure of Basic Subscriber Details of the YouTube channel owner within two weeks.
The persons disclosed may be impleaded after two weeks, it added.
The High Court also directed Google to file details about the revenue earned by the fake YouTube page. In case further such pages were created, the URL shall be given to Google for takedown of the same, it added.
The interim order was passed on a suit filed by TV Today Network (owner of Aaj Tak) for a permanent injunction against impersonation and misuse of its intellectual property rights.
Appearing for TV Today, Advocate Hrishikesh Baruah contended that the YouTube channel was being used to spread fake news and earn money.
He apprised the single-judge Bench that the YouTube channel created fake news videos using the ‘Deepfake’ technology, and presented Kashyap as reading the news on behalf of the news organisation.
Justice Singh observed that considering the identity of the defendant no 2, the missing P in the word Kashyap, it was clear that the same appeared to be a fake page.
Such fake YouTube pages and fake profiles being made using her goodwill, reputation and personality were contrary to law. The plaintiff has made out a case for interim injunction, she added.
The Counsel appearing for Google said they would remove the page but Kashyap herself was not before the Court.
Baruah apprised the single-judge Bench that Anjana did not want to be part of the litigation.
The High Court, however, said the news anchor would have to be impleaded as a party.
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