Bombay High Court permits Nitin Gadkari to sue Meta, Google, X over ethanol-linked deepfake posts

The Bombay High Court on Monday allowed Union minister Nitin Gadkari to file a civil suit against Meta, Google and X for allegedly defamatory content being circulated on their social media platforms linking him to a row about the government’s ethanol-blending programme, reported Live Law.

The E20 programme is a national initiative to blend 20% ethanol with 80% petrol. The initiative has received criticism from vehicle owners who have alleged that E20 fuel was reducing mileage and damaging cars.

Apart from the technology companies, Gadkari has named the Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and the Department of Telecommunications as respondents to his plea.