The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has directed messaging platform Telegram to disable access to over 3,000 channels distributing pirated movies, web series and audiobooks, invoking intermediary liability provisions under the Information Technology Act and giving the platform just three hours to comply.
In a notification dated March 11, the ministry said several Telegram channels made content owned or licensed to film studios, OTT platforms and producers available without authorization, in violation of the Copyright Act of 1957.
“This is a complaints-based mechanism. We have received complaints from multiple sources such as content owners, OTT platforms and civil society regarding pirated content and hence we have taken action,” said a senior MIB official requesting anonymity.
“…The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting found that some Telegram channels (details in Appendix) made available content owned or licensed by certain content owners, OTT platforms and producers without a license in violation of the Copyright Act 1957,” the notification said.
In a two-page notice, seen by HT, a 120-page addendum was attached detailing the Telegram channel URL, channel name, number of links to pirated content and names of projects.
The notice, issued by MIB Joint Secretary C Senthil Rajan, asks Telegram to “remove and disable access to the Telegram channels concerned…within three hours of issuance of this communication” and ensure action is taken “without spoiling the evidence”.
The government cited Section 79(3)(b) of the Information Technology Act, 2000 and Rule 3(1)(d) of the Information Technology (Intermediaries Guidelines and Digital Media Code of Ethics) Rules, 2021, provisions that require intermediaries to remove illegal content once the authorities are notified. Failure to do so may result in the platform losing its safe harbor protection, which protects brokers from liability for user-generated content.
The three-hour deadline reflects the government’s recent tightening of intermediaries’ obligations under the IT Rules Amendments 2021, significantly reducing the time available for platforms to remove illegal content after receiving formal notices. The amendments entered into force on February 20, 2026.
According to MUSO’s Piracy Trends and Insights Report 2024, India accounted for 8.12% of global piracy traffic, with around 1,756 crore visits to pirated websites, making it the second largest source of piracy traffic after the US, which has a 12% share.
The notice addendum lists dozens of Telegram channels distributing pirated content, ranging from movie and web series channels currently on OTT platforms like Amazon Prime, SonyLiv, Jio Hotstar, ShemarooMe, etc., to audiobook piracy networks, including those sharing content from audio platform KukuFM. The links include pirated copies of movies like KGF Chapter 2, 120 Bahadur, Two Much starring Kajol and Twinkle, Param Sundari, Kantara: A Legend – Chapter 1, and Bhool Chuk Maaf.
