Government asks Telegram to act within 15 days against pirated films and OTT content
Highlights
- I&B Ministry issues notice to Telegram
- Platform asked to remove pirated films and OTT content
- Action Taken Report sought within 15 days
- Repeat infringers, bots and channels under scanner
- Move aims to protect India’s creator economy
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has issued a notice to messaging platform Telegram over the alleged circulation of pirated films, OTT shows and other audio-visual content on its platform. The government has asked Telegram to take corrective action within 15 days and submit an Action Taken Report detailing the steps taken to prevent and remove such content.
According to the ministry, Telegram must strengthen its systems for detecting, reporting, disabling access to and removing pirated films and infringing content. The platform has also been directed to act against repeat offenders, including channels, groups, bots, accounts, administrators and other linked entities.
The notice also seeks details of Telegram’s grievance redressal mechanism for film producers, OTT platforms, broadcasters and law-enforcement agencies. Officials said the move marks a shift from individual takedown requests to broader platform accountability.
The government had earlier acted against more than 3,000 Telegram channels carrying pirated content. However, the ministry has now underlined that Telegram, as an intermediary, cannot wait for the government to identify each piracy channel separately.
The ministry reminded Telegram that it is required to follow due diligence under the Information Technology Act, 2000, and IT Rules, 2021. It also stated that a purely reactive channel-by-channel takedown approach may not be enough to meet legal obligations.
The government further pointed out that copyright infringement is not only a civil violation but also a criminal offence under the Copyright Act, 1957, and the Cinematograph Act, 1952.
Officials said the action is aimed at protecting India’s creator economy, including the film industry, OTT platforms, broadcasters, producers and distributors.
