New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on 14th October directed Google to use its technology to counter fake advertisements using Sadhguru’s AI generated images. This was in response to Sadhguru and Isha Foundation highlighting Google’s failure to prevent the continued misuse of Sadhguru’s name, image, and videos through misleading AI deepfake advertisements, including the ad of Sadhguru’s fake arrest, on its video sharing platform YouTube.
The single judge bench of Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora told Google that publishing such advertisements showing fake arrest of Sadhguru should be stopped. The Court ordered Google to use its technology to address the issue and if it has any limitations or reservations with regard to use of its technology then to file an affidavit in court detailing the reasons. The Court further directed Google and Isha to meet and jointly discuss the issue and arrive at a solution such that Isha Foundation need not repeatedly reach out for removal of such content.
Beware of Fake Advertisements and Scams Using @SadhguruJV‘s Name and Image. Please report these ads as “Scam” if they appear on your feed.
Fraudulent content including fake AI-generated videos, morphed images, and misleading financial investment advertisements have been… pic.twitter.com/m1jolbqkXu
— Isha Foundation (@ishafoundation) June 16, 2025
It was brought to the Court’s notice that Google has a policy against publishing clickbait advertisements using negative life events like arrest, death etc and it was not following the same. Also it was pointed out that as per the Intermediary rules, Google is obligated to deploy technology-based measures, including automated tools or other mechanisms to proactively identify information which is identical/similar in content to information that has previously been removed due to a court order.
Earlier, Sadhguru and Isha Foundation had approached the Delhi High Court by filing a suit against all unknown channels and social media intermediaries where Sadhguru’s personality rights were being violated with fake and misleading videos, posts and advertisements. The Delhi High Court, through its order dated 30 May 2025, granted protection to Sadhguru’s personality rights and directed Google to suspend, take down, and disable such infringing channels and content.
However, despite the Court order, there had been a surge in fake advertisements on YouTube. These included fraudulent ads falsely claiming Sadhguru’s arrest and doctored videos showing him promoting fake investment schemes.
Cunningly exploiting public trust in Sadhguru’s name, these clickbait ads lure unsuspecting users to websites designed to harvest personal and financial data or promote bogus investment scams. The continued circulation of these deepfake and deceptive advertisements has caused widespread confusion and concern, with thousands of volunteers, and members of the public reaching out to verify false claims of Sadhguru’s “arrest.” Such orchestrated misinformation damages Sadhguru’s work, undermines public trust, and endangers the integrity of digital discourse.
Isha Foundation continues to take proactive steps to remove such fraudulent material and safeguard individuals from falling prey to these scams. The Foundation urges the public to remain vigilant and to report any fake advertisements or videos on YouTube falsely claiming that Sadhguru has been arrested by marking them as “scam” or “misleading”.