NEW DELHI: The Center has directed messaging platform Telegram to disable access to several channels accused of distributing pirated movies and web series, and asks the medium to comply within three hours of receiving the notice.In a notification issued on Wednesday, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting cited provisions of the Information Technology Act, 2000, and the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Code of Ethics) Rules, 2021, to order the removal of the channels and their content.The order states that some Telegram channels were hosting and distributing copyrighted material owned or licensed by OTT platforms, producers and other content owners without authorization, in violation of the Copyright Act of 1957.
The notice directed Telegram to remove and disable access to the channels “within three hours of the issuance of this notification without spoiling the evidence in any way.”According to the annex attached to the notification, some of the channels contain more than 2,000 links linked to the unauthorized distribution of films, web series and other digital entertainment content.The measure is based on Section 79(3)(b) of the Information Technology Act, which removes liability protection from intermediaries if they fail to act after receiving a government notice regarding illegal content hosted on their platforms.
Rule 3(1)(d) of the Information Technology Rules, 2021 requires intermediaries to remove or disable access to blocked information upon notification from the government or a competent court.Officials said the move forms part of a broader effort to curb online piracy and protect the intellectual property rights of digital content producers and streaming platforms. In recent years, the government has increased monitoring of online platforms.