New Delhi, Jul 4: The Centre has issued a notice to messaging platform Telegram, directing it to curb the widespread circulation of pirated films, OTT content and other audio-visual material on its platform, while warning of legal action in case of non-compliance.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) has sought an Action Taken Report (ATR) from Telegram within 15 days, signalling a shift from content-specific takedowns to holding digital platforms accountable for preventing copyright violations, officials said on Saturday.
In the notice, the ministry reportedly informed Telegram that copyright infringement is not merely a civil violation but also a criminal offence under the Copyright Act, 1957, and the Cinematograph Act, 1952.
Officials said the government has made it clear that Telegram cannot rely solely on a reactive, channel-by-channel takedown approach and is expected to exercise due diligence as mandated under the Information Technology Act, 2000, and the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.
The ministry has also sought details of Telegram’s grievance redressal mechanism for film producers, OTT platforms and law enforcement agencies, reminding the platform of its obligations as an intermediary under the IT Act and the IT Rules.
The notice comes amid increased regulatory scrutiny of major digital platforms. Earlier this week, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) issued a notice to Meta over WhatsApp’s proposed username feature and later decided to summon the company regarding Instagram advertisements allegedly promoting child sexual abuse material.
Officials said the government has warned that the continued availability of pirated content, inadequate compliance or an incomplete response could invite further action under the applicable legal framework. The move, they added, is aimed at safeguarding India’s creator economy, film industry, broadcasters, OTT platforms, producers and distributors. (Agencies)
