Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi
New Delhi, Jul 4: The Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) on Saturday issued a notice to Telegram over the circulation of pirated films and OTT content, directing the messaging platform to take immediate action against copyright violations and submit an Action Taken Report within 15 days.
The ministry said the move is aimed at protecting India's creator economy, including the interests of the film industry, broadcasters, OTT platforms, producers and distributors from online piracy.
Telegram has also been directed to act against repeat offenders, including channels, groups, bots, user accounts, administrators and other associated entities involved in distributing pirated content.
The communication marks a shift in the Centre's approach from individual content takedowns to holding digital platforms accountable for preventing large-scale copyright infringement.
The Centre had earlier initiated action against more than 3,000 Telegram channels allegedly involved in distributing pirated content.
According to the ministry, the latest action follows complaints from several OTT platforms and content owners alleging that copyrighted films and web series were being widely shared on Telegram without authorisation.
Following an examination of the complaints, the ministry identified 3,142 Telegram channels allegedly engaged in the distribution of pirated movies, web series and other copyrighted material.
The notice has been issued under the Information Technology Act, 2000, directing Telegram to remove infringing content and strengthen compliance with its obligations as an intermediary.
Under the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, online intermediaries are required to remove unlawful content upon receiving a valid government notice or court order.
The ministry reminded Telegram that it is legally bound to exercise due diligence under the IT Act and the IT Rules. It also made it clear that the platform cannot wait for the government to identify each piracy channel individually before taking action.
Telegram has been under increased regulatory scrutiny in India in recent months over concerns relating to online fraud, impersonation and the circulation of sensitive and illegal content.
Earlier, the Centre imposed a week-long ban on Telegram and its associated web services until Jun 22, citing the platform's alleged failure to curb the circulation of leaked and fake National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) examination papers, misleading information and other fraudulent activities linked to the medical entrance examination. The messaging platform resumed operations in India after the temporary ban expired.