Supreme Court Expands Right to be Forgotten: Addressing AI Hallucinations under Article 21

The Court has directed the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) to establish a formal mechanism allowing citizens to seek the de-indexing of false personal data generated by AI. This directive shifts the responsibility onto both the state and AI developers to ensure that the 'Right to be Forgotten' is not just a theoretical concept but an actionable remedy in the age of artificial intelligence. This ruling builds upon the foundation laid by the K.S. Puttaswamy judgment (2017), which recognized privacy as a fundamental right, and the subsequent evolution of the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act. For governance, this necessitates a robust regulatory framework that balances technological innovation with ethical safeguards. It highlights the judiciary's proactive role in interpreting the Constitution to meet the challenges of the 21st century, ensuring that the digital ecosystem remains accountable to the citizens it serves. UPSC Relevance: This ruling is a crucial case study for GS-II questions regarding the judicial expansion of Fundamental Rights and the evolution of Article 21. It also intersects with GS-III topics concerning the ethics of Artificial Intelligence and the regulatory challenges posed by emerging technologies. Aspirants can use this to discuss the 'Right to be Forgotten' in the context of digital sovereignty and individual dignity.