Kerala Woman Seeks High Court's Help to Remove Morphed Videos from Internet

A woman from Kozhikode has approached the Kerala High Court to remove her morphed videos from the internet. The videos, allegedly created and circulated by political rivals, have caused her significant distress and led to her resignation from her position as Panchayat Vice-President.

Key Takeaways

A woman from Kozhikode has filed a petition in the Kerala High Court to remove morphed videos of her from the internet.
Justice A. Badharudeen has issued notices to intermediaries like Google, Meta, and Yahoo to make the video unavailable on search engines.
The woman alleges that political rivals created and leaked the videos, leading to her resignation.
Despite filing an FIR, the videos resurfaced on her wedding day, and the police have not taken action to remove them.
The woman has independently requested Google, Yahoo, and Meta to remove the videos but received no response.

The Petition

The woman, who was a Panchayat Vice-President, claims that her political opponents morphed and leaked her videos out of rivalry. She has since resigned from her position due to the pressure and harassment she faced. Justice A. Badharudeen has issued notices to all intermediaries, including Google, Meta, and Yahoo, to make the video unavailable on search engines.

Background

The woman alleges that an acquaintance recorded some of her videos last year, edited them, and used them to harass her. Although an FIR was filed, the matter was settled before the police on the assurance that all videos were deleted. However, the morphed videos resurfaced on her wedding day. Despite filing a complaint, the police have not taken any action to arrest the accused or remove the videos.

Current Situation

The videos have been widely circulated on social media and even uploaded to adult sites. The woman’s social media accounts are flooded with obscene messages. She has independently requested Google, Yahoo, and Meta to remove the videos but has received no response. The plea is moved by a team of advocates, including Renjith B. Marar, Lekshmi N. Kaimal, and others.

Legal Context

This case is part of a broader issue concerning the dissemination of non-consensual intimate images. The Delhi High Court has issued directions to authorities to prevent the spread of such content, emphasizing the difficulty of controlling its spread once uploaded. The Indian government has also instructed social media companies to remove deep fake content within 24 hours of receiving a complaint.

Political Implications

The case has political undertones, as the woman alleges that her political rivals are behind the morphed videos. This is not an isolated incident; similar cases have been reported where political figures have been targeted with morphed videos to tarnish their reputation.

Conclusion

The Kerala High Court’s intervention is crucial in addressing the woman’s plea to remove the morphed videos from the internet. The case highlights the challenges of controlling the spread of non-consensual intimate images and the need for stringent measures to protect individuals’ privacy and dignity.

Kerala Woman Seeks High Court’s Help to Remove Morphed Videos from Internet