No more downloading pirated films, web series from Telegram?:Centre asks messaging app to take action against circulation of pirated content

Now you may not be able to download pirated films and web series available for free on the Telegram app. The central government has asked Telegram to curb pirated content otherwise to control spread of pirated films and OTT content on its messaging app. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting issued an official notice to Telegram on Saturday, July 4. The government has asked the company to immediately curb the circulation of pirated films and web series from its platform and submit a report of the action taken within the next 15 days. This is the second notice the app has received from the government in 3 days. Order to take action at platform level According to sources, the government has made it clear that Telegram can no longer just wait for complaints. Instead of removing piracy channels one by one, a robust system needs to be built at the platform level. The government believes that this lethargic attitude does not meet the ‘due diligence’ conditions applicable to intermediaries under the Information Technology Act, 2000 and IT Rules, 2021. The government has directed the company to take action against channels, groups, bots, accounts, administrators and their associated entities that repeatedly violate the rules. More than 3,000 channels have been blocked before The government has previously taken action against more than 3,000 Telegram channels spreading piracy content. The government has warned that if such content continues to be available or if incomplete responses are received from the company, stricter action will be taken within the legal framework. The notice stated that copyright infringement is not just a civil dispute. Criminal liability can also be determined under the Copyright Act 1957 and Cinematograph Act 1952, which can lead to imprisonment. Ban imposed in June due to leaked papers Earlier in the month of June, on the recommendation of the National Testing Agency, the government had imposed a ban on Telegram from June 16 to June 22 in the paper leak case. Apart from this, in view of the NEET 2026 re-examination held on June 21, the government had also ordered Telegram to keep its ‘message-editing’ feature disabled till June 30.