Telegram Faces Trouble: Government Issues 15-Day Ultimatum to Remove Pirated Films

Notice to Telegram: The government believes that merely removing content after receiving a complaint is insufficient.

Notice to Telegram: This issue gained significant traction recently following the introduction of a new ‘username’ feature on the social media platform WhatsApp. Concerns regarding usernames led the government to halt that feature. Now, following WhatsApp, the government has issued a notice to Telegram as well.

The central government has adopted a strict stance against the messaging platform Telegram to curb online piracy in India. The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting has issued a notice directing Telegram to strengthen its anti-piracy mechanisms and submit a report on the actions taken within 15 days. The government states that a large volume of pirated films, OTT content, and other copyrighted material is being shared on the platform, causing substantial losses to the film industry and the creator economy.

What the Government Told Telegram

According to reports, the Ministry has clearly instructed Telegram to devise a robust system to identify, report, block access to, and remove pirated films and audio-video content that infringes upon copyrights.

Furthermore, the government maintains that removing content only after a complaint is received is not enough. The platform must proactively identify such content and take necessary steps to remove it in a timely manner.

Demand for Grievance Redressal

The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting has also sought comprehensive details regarding Telegram’s grievance redressal system. The government wants to know how film producers, OTT platforms, broadcasters, and law enforcement agencies can lodge complaints about pirated content and how quickly action is taken on those complaints.

Action Against Repeat Offenders

The government has also asked Telegram to take strict action against users and networks that repeatedly share pirated content. This encompasses not only personal accounts but also channels, groups, bots, administrators, and the various networks linked to them. The government’s move aims to dismantle the entire network responsible for consistently distributing pirated copies of films and web series to the public.

Report to be submitted within 15 days