Centre issues notice to Telegram over pirated films, OTT content; seeks action report in 15 days

The government has tightened its crackdown on online piracy, issuing a notice to Telegram over pirated OTT content and seeking stronger compliance with IT rules

PGurus Newsdesk

July 4, 2026

The Centre has issued a notice to Telegram, directing it to remove pirated films and OTT content, act against repeat offenders and submit an Action Taken Report within 15 days

Centre directs Telegram to remove pirated films and OTT content, act against repeat offenders and submit an Action Taken Report within 15 days

The Centre has issued a notice to Telegram, directing the messaging platform to crack down on the circulation of pirated films, web series and other copyrighted content, while seeking an Action Taken Report (ATR) within 15 days, sources said on Saturday.

The notice, issued by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B), instructs Telegram to take immediate action against channels, groups, bots, accounts and administrators involved in distributing pirated content. The platform has also been asked to curb repeat offenders and strengthen its compliance mechanisms.

The move is aimed at protecting India’s creator economy, including filmmakers, broadcasters, OTT platforms, producers and distributors, from losses caused by online piracy.

According to sources, the ministry identified 3,142 Telegram channels allegedly involved in sharing pirated movies, web series and other copyrighted material after receiving complaints from several OTT platforms and content owners.

The notice has been issued under the Information Technology Act, 2000, and reminds Telegram of its obligations under the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021. Under these rules, intermediaries are required to remove unlawful content upon receiving valid government directions or court orders.

Officials indicated that the government’s approach is shifting from individual content takedowns to greater platform accountability. The ministry has made it clear that Telegram cannot rely solely on government notifications to identify piracy networks and must proactively detect and remove infringing content.

Telegram has been under increasing regulatory scrutiny in India in recent months over issues ranging from piracy and copyright violations to online fraud, impersonation and the circulation of sensitive content.

Earlier this year, the platform also faced temporary restrictions following concerns over the circulation of leaked and fake NEET examination papers and other misleading content. Authorities say the latest action reflects the government’s broader push to ensure digital platforms comply with Indian laws while safeguarding the rights of content creators.

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