Government Issues 15-Day Ultimatum to Telegram Over Piracy

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has issued a formal notice to the messaging platform Telegram, demanding urgent action to curb the widespread dissemination of pirated films and OTT content. The government has set a strict 15-day deadline for the platform to provide an Action Taken Report, highlighting that current reactive measures—such as individual channel takedowns—are insufficient to satisfy due diligence requirements under India's Information Technology Act and Rules. This directive signals a shift toward holding the platform itself accountable for systematic copyright infringement.

Authorities have expressed concern over the persistent availability of unauthorized copyrighted material within various Telegram channels, groups, and bots. The Ministry explicitly stated that copyright infringement is a criminal offense under the Copyright Act of 1957 and the Cinematograph Act of 1952. By setting this deadline, the government is pressuring the platform to enhance its detection, reporting, and removal mechanisms. Officials emphasized that relying on government agencies to identify each infringing channel does not constitute proper due diligence by an intermediary.

This enforcement action aims to protect the financial integrity of India’s burgeoning creator economy, including the film industry, television broadcasters, and digital streaming platforms. Failure to provide a comprehensive response or continuing to demonstrate evasive compliance could lead to further legal examination under the existing legal framework. The move underscores the government's intent to treat digital platforms as active participants in maintaining a lawful online environment, particularly regarding the protection of intellectual property rights and the livelihoods of those involved in entertainment production.