NEW DELHI: Delhi Police has registered an FIR after a 25-year-old woman alleged that her photograph was morphed using artificial intelligence (AI) and displayed alongside Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s photograph during a protest at Jantar Mantar.The FIR was registered at the Cyber police station in New Delhi on Thursday under relevant sections of the Information Technology Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).The woman, identified as Riddhima Sharma in the complaint, alleged that her personal photograph was used without her consent during a protest organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP).
Woman alleges image was used on banners
“Complainant Riddhima Sharma has alleged in her complaint that during a recent protest organised by the CJP at Jantar Mantar, some protesters and organisers allegedly used her personal photograph without her consent and digitally manipulated it using AI face-swapping tools,” a senior police officer said.According to her complaint, her face was superimposed onto an image of the prime minister to create what she described as a false and sensationalised picture.She alleged that the image was subsequently printed on banners and posters and displayed during the protest.The woman further alleged that the banners were waved before crowds at Jantar Mantar, where derogatory slogans and vulgar and sexually suggestive comments were made against her.
Videos allegedly circulated on social media
The complainant alleged that videos of the banners and slogans were recorded and later circulated on social media platforms, including Instagram.She told police that she had no connection with the CJP, its protest or the content displayed on the banners, and alleged that her image had been used without her consent.She also sought action against those involved in the alleged use and circulation of the morphed image.
FIR names no accused
In her complaint, Sharma named CJP protest organisers and key functionaries Saurbah Das, Abhijeet Dipke, Ashutosh Ranka and Ratna Singh, alleging that they and their “active accomplices” had unauthorisedly harvested her private photographs.“They are directly responsible for the same,” she has alleged.However, the FIR lists the accused as unidentified and police have not, at this stage, named any person as an accused in the case.Police said the allegations are being investigated from all angles, including the creation, printing, public display and online circulation of the “morphed” image.
