Government blocks 4,996 Telegram channels in crackdown on film piracy

MUMBAI: Pirates may sail the digital seas, but the Government is tightening the net. As films increasingly leak online within hours of release, New Delhi says it is turning the tide with sharper laws and faster takedowns.

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has said it has directed intermediaries to disable 7,393 URLs, including 1,263 websites and 4,996 Telegram channels, as part of its ongoing crackdown on online film piracy.

The figures were disclosed in a written reply to an Unstarred Question in the Lok Sabha by Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs Dr L. Murugan, who outlined the Government’s legal and institutional measures to tackle the unauthorised distribution of films, OTT content and other audiovisual material through platforms such as Telegram.

Responding to concerns over pirated films, OTT shows and the alleged circulation of illegal content on Telegram, the Government said it has strengthened the legal framework through the Cinematograph (Amendment) Act, 2023, which introduced specific provisions to curb unauthorised recording and exhibition of films. The amendment also empowers the Government to act against intermediaries hosting pirated content under Section 79(3) of the Information Technology Act, 2000.

The Ministry said Section 79(3)(b) of the IT Act enables the Government to notify intermediaries to remove or disable access to unlawful content. Under the Information Technology Rules, 2021, intermediaries are required to take down content that violates any law once they receive a court order or a notice from the appropriate government or its authorised agency.

To speed up enforcement, the Government has authorised the Joint Secretary (Films) in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to issue takedown notices under both the Information Technology Rules, 2021 and the Cinematograph Act, 1952. An institutional mechanism has also been established within the Ministry to receive complaints from copyright holders and issue notifications to intermediaries for disabling access to infringing content.

The response came after a parliamentarian sought details on the Government’s action against Telegram and similar platforms over the circulation of pirated films, OTT content and other illegal material. While the question also referred to concerns relating to child sexual abuse material, fake job advertisements and cyber fraud, the Ministry’s reply focused on measures taken to curb online film piracy and the legal framework governing content takedowns.

The latest figures underline the scale of India’s anti-piracy drive, with authorities increasingly relying on a combination of legal amendments, regulatory powers and platform-level enforcement to curb the unauthorised distribution of copyrighted content across digital platforms.