Government Directs Telegram to Act Against Pirated Films and OTT Content
Telegram has been asked to submit an action report within 15 days as the Centre pushes for stronger platform responsibility against online piracy.
New Delhi: The Central Government has issued a notice to messaging platform Telegram, asking it to take firm action against the spread of pirated films, OTT shows and other audio visual content on its platform.
According to government officials, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has asked Telegram to submit an Action Taken Report within 15 days. Officials said the move reflects a stronger approach by the government, shifting the focus from removing individual piracy links to holding platforms accountable for repeated misuse.
The ministry is understood to have reminded Telegram that copyright violation is not only a civil matter but can also be treated as a criminal offence under Indian law. The notice refers to provisions under the Copyright Act, 1957, and the Cinematograph Act, 1952.
Officials said Telegram cannot simply wait for the government to point out every piracy channel separately. They added that only removing content after complaints may not be enough to show proper due diligence under the Information Technology Act, 2000, and the IT Rules, 2021.
The notice also comes at a time when the government has increased its scrutiny of major digital platforms. Recently, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology questioned Meta over WhatsApp’s proposed username feature. The company is also expected to be called for discussions over Instagram advertisements allegedly linked to harmful content.
The Information and Broadcasting Ministry has also asked Telegram to provide details about its grievance redressal system for film producers, OTT platforms, broadcasters and law enforcement agencies. Officials said Telegram, as an intermediary, must follow due diligence requirements under India’s digital rules.
The government has warned that if pirated content continues to remain available, or if Telegram gives an incomplete response, further action may be considered under the applicable legal framework.
Officials said the step has been taken to protect India’s creator economy, film industry, broadcasters, OTT platforms, producers and distributors from the growing problem of online piracy.