Centre issues notice to Telegram over pirated films, OTT content
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New Delhi: The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) on Saturday issued a notice to Telegram over the alleged widespread dissemination of pirated films, OTT content and other audio-visual material on its platform, directing the messaging service to take corrective action within 15 days.
The Ministry has also asked Telegram to strengthen its mechanisms for detecting, reporting, disabling access to and removing pirated films and other copyright-infringing audio-visual content.
The notice directs Telegram to take action against repeat infringers, including channels, groups, bots, user accounts, administrators and associated entities. It has also sought details of the platform's grievance redressal mechanism for film producers, OTT platforms and law enforcement agencies.
Telegram has been asked to submit an Action Taken Report within 15 days, outlining the measures it has adopted to prevent, detect and remove pirated content from the platform.
According to officials, the communication marks a shift from the government's earlier approach of seeking individual content takedowns towards holding the platform itself accountable. They noted that the government had previously acted against more than 3,000 Telegram channels allegedly involved in distributing pirated content.
Reminding Telegram of its obligations as an intermediary under the Information Technology Act, 2000, and the Information Technology Rules, 2021, the Ministry said the platform is required to exercise due diligence and should not wait for the government to identify every piracy-related channel. It added that a purely reactive, channel-by-channel takedown approach may not be sufficient to meet the due diligence requirements prescribed under the law.
The Ministry also emphasised that copyright infringement is not merely a civil violation but a criminal offence under the Copyright Act, 1957, and the Cinematograph Act, 1952. It warned that the continued availability of pirated content, evasive compliance or an incomplete response could invite further scrutiny and action under the applicable legal framework.
Officials said the action was aimed at protecting India's creator economy, film industry, broadcasters, OTT platforms, producers and distributors from copyright infringement.