Social media influencer Sania Mistry has approached Maharashtra Cyber after allegedly obscene, digitally morphed and AI-generated images of her circulated online. The cybercrime department has initiated an investigation and issued a notice to the hosting platform, bringing renewed attention to the growing misuse of artificial intelligence to target individuals. According to Maharashtra Cyber, forensic experts examined the photographs using AI-based deepfake detection tools and concluded that the images had been digitally altered. A certificate confirming the manipulation was issued, officials said. Investigators are now working to identify those allegedly responsible for creating, uploading and circulating the images. The objective is to stop further circulation and establish accountability. But the case raises a larger question: in an age when realistic images can be fabricated in minutes, how can people protect their identities and seek justice when their photographs are misused?
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What Is a Deepfake, and How Can It Be Used to Target Someone?
Deepfakes are images, videos or audio recordings generated or manipulated using artificial intelligence to make someone appear to say or do something they never did.
The technology has legitimate applications in filmmaking, entertainment and accessibility. However, it can also be used to impersonate people, spread misinformation or create sexualised images without their consent.
A person’s ordinary photograph can be used as source material for a manipulated image. The resulting content may look convincing enough to mislead viewers, even when the person depicted has never posed for such a photograph.
The harm extends beyond celebrities and influencers. Students, professionals and private individuals can also become targets. Once manipulated content spreads through social media accounts, messaging groups or websites, victims may struggle to identify every copy or prevent further sharing.
Even when an image is eventually removed, screenshots and reposts can prolong the damage to a person’s privacy, reputation and emotional well-being.
From Influencers to Film Stars, No One Is Entirely Safe
The misuse of AI-generated images has become a concern for public figures as well as ordinary internet users.
In October 2026, the Delhi High Court granted interim protection to actor Vijay Deverakonda against unauthorised use of his name, image, voice and other personal attributes, including through AI-generated images and deepfakes. The court directed platforms to act on identified content within 72 hours under the order.
Actor Kangana Ranaut also received interim protection from the Delhi High Court against unauthorised use of her identity, including deepfakes, fabricated speeches and manipulated content.
These cases demonstrate that AI misuse is not limited to fabricated celebrity endorsements or misleading videos. Manipulated images can also be used to sexualise, humiliate or falsely represent a person.
The Sania Mistry case brings this concern into the influencer ecosystem, where photographs and videos are routinely shared publicly. Having a public profile does not mean consenting to the creation or circulation of fabricated intimate imagery.
What Should Victims Do If Their Images Are Misused?
Anyone targeted by manipulated or intimate images should preserve relevant evidence, including URLs, account names, screenshots and timestamps, where safe and appropriate. They should report the content to the platform and file a complaint through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal. Assistance is also available through India’s cybercrime helpline at 1930, although that number is primarily associated with financial cybercrime reporting.
Victims should avoid resharing the images as proof of abuse. They can instead provide links and supporting evidence to investigators. Where necessary, they may also seek legal advice and assistance from local police or cybercrime authorities.
The Bigger Question: Who Protects a Person’s Digital Identity?
The Sania Mistry case is a reminder that AI-generated abuse is not simply a problem of misleading content. It can be an attack on a person’s privacy, dignity and control over their own identity.
As image-generation tools become easier to access, the responsibility to prevent harm cannot rest entirely on victims. Platforms must respond effectively, investigators must pursue those responsible, and users must stop treating manipulated intimate images as entertainment.
Technology may make it easier to fabricate a photograph. It should not make it easier to escape accountability for the harm that follows.