Research On Forensic Investigation Of Ai-Driven Digital Impersonation
1. Anil Kapoor vs. Simply Life India & Others (India, 2023)
Facts:
Bollywood actor Anil Kapoor filed a lawsuit against a company and unknown defendants who used AI-generated images and videos to impersonate him. These AI-generated media were used commercially and circulated online, including social media.
Legal Issues:
Unauthorized use of actor’s name, image, and likeness.
Commercial exploitation of AI-generated media without consent.
Violation of personality rights and potential defamation.
Outcome:
The court granted an injunction restraining the defendants from using Kapoor’s image, voice, or likeness in any AI-generated content.
Forensic Insights:
Analysis of deepfake videos/images to determine manipulation.
Metadata examination to trace creation dates and software used.
Tracing upload accounts and IP addresses for identification of defendants.
2. Rashmika Mandanna Deepfake Video (India, 2023)
Facts:
A non-consensual deepfake video showed actress Rashmika Mandanna’s face superimposed on another individual’s body in a compromising scenario. The video was shared on social media.
Legal Issues:
Non-consensual sexual content (deepfake pornography).
Forgery and identity theft under the IT Act.
Defamation and insult to modesty under IPC.
Outcome:
The suspect(s) were arrested, charged under IPC Sections 465, 469 (forgery), and IT Act Sections 66C and 66D (identity theft).
Forensic Insights:
Face-morph detection and verification of synthetic content.
Tracing the source account and IP logs of the video.
Preservation of digital evidence before deletion from platforms.
3. Ankur Warikoo vs. John Doe & Others (India, 2025)
Facts:
Influencer Ankur Warikoo’s identity was impersonated using AI-generated videos and voice recordings. These were used in WhatsApp groups to promote fraudulent investment schemes.
Legal Issues:
Identity impersonation and fraud.
Unauthorized use of image and voice.
Defamation and potential financial harm to victims.
Outcome:
The Delhi High Court issued an ex-parte injunction against unknown defendants, ordering takedown of AI-generated content and requiring platforms to disclose IP addresses and account information.
Forensic Insights:
Linking AI-generated content to IP addresses.
Analyzing upload times and accounts to trace perpetrators.
Correlating fraudulent activity with content dissemination.
4. UK – CEO Voice Fraud Case
Facts:
A CEO’s voice was cloned using AI and used to instruct a company’s finance department to transfer €220,000.
Legal Issues:
Fraud by impersonation.
Identity theft and financial deception.
Outcome:
Criminal investigation was initiated, and companies strengthened voice authentication protocols.
Forensic Insights:
Voice-clone detection using AI forensic tools.
Audio metadata analysis.
Tracing call origin and correlating instructions with financial transactions.
5. Dazhon Darien – Deepfake Audio Harassment (USA, Maryland)
Facts:
A former school athletics director created an AI-generated audio recording of a principal making racist and antisemitic statements. The recording was circulated online.
Legal Issues:
AI voice impersonation causing harassment.
Defamation and reputational harm.
Outcome:
The defendant entered an Alford plea and was sentenced to four months in jail.
Forensic Insights:
Verification that audio was synthetically generated.
Metadata analysis to trace creation and dissemination.
Linking suspect to creation through digital footprints.
6. Akshay Kumar Deepfake Personality Rights Case (India, 2025)
Facts:
AI-generated deepfake videos circulated online showing actor Akshay Kumar making inflammatory statements. These videos were realistic and could potentially incite public unrest.
Legal Issues:
Personality rights violation.
Risk of defamation and public order disruption.
Unauthorized use of image/voice for commercial gain.
Outcome:
The Bombay High Court ordered immediate removal of deepfake content, suspension of accounts, and restraining unknown “John Doe” defendants from further use of the actor’s likeness.
Forensic Insights:
Deepfake detection and video authenticity analysis.
Tracing uploads to social media and e-commerce platforms.
Chain of custody documentation to preserve evidence for court proceedings.
Key Takeaways Across Cases:
AI-driven impersonation affects celebrities, public figures, and ordinary individuals.
Forensic investigation requires multi-modal analysis: images, audio, metadata, platform logs, financial traces.
Timely preservation of digital evidence is crucial before content deletion.
Attribution to suspects is challenging; cross-platform tracing and IP analysis are essential.
Courts increasingly recognize AI-generated impersonation as actionable under personality rights, criminal law, and civil remedies.
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