Bombay High Court Rules AI Voice Cloning Without Consent Violates Personality Rights

The Bombay High Court has ruled that using artificial intelligence technology to clone a person's voice without consent violates their personality rights. The judgment, delivered in singer Asha Bhosle's case, directed that such practices must cease and offenders be identified.

AI voice cloning technology uses algorithms to analyze speech patterns, accents, and breathing from audio samples to create digital voice replicas. While the technology has legitimate applications in healthcare—such as voice preservation and aiding those with speech disabilities—it also poses risks of misuse for fraudulent purposes.

The court's decision underscores that voice constitutes a form of legal identity with monetary significance. The ruling establishes that personality rights protection extends to voice in the age of AI, setting a precedent for consent-based use of such technology.