The Indian government has escalated its measures against the Telegram application, after sending a new notification to the platform accusing it of not taking sufficient action to curb pirated content. The government is demanding immediate and proactive steps to combat channels and groups that distribute movies, series, and streaming platform content illegally.

15-day deadline for a comprehensive report

The Indian Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has given Telegram 15 days to submit a detailed report on the steps it has taken to confront piracy networks operating through the platform, along with explaining the measures taken to disable these networks and prevent their continued activity.

Request for clarification on handling rights holders' complaints

The ministry is demanding that the platform develop its systems for monitoring, reporting, and deleting pirated content. It also calls for taking action against repeat offenders, including channels, groups, bots, personal accounts, and their administrators. The government emphasizes that relying solely on reports or government intervention is no longer sufficient.

The Indian government asserts that deleting violating channels after being reported does not meet the due diligence requirements outlined in Indian laws. Instead of waiting for authorities to detect them, Telegram is required to proactively identify and dismantle piracy networks.

The ministry also requested that Telegram clarify its procedures for receiving and addressing complaints from film producers, streaming platforms, copyright holders, and security agencies. Additionally, it asked for an explanation of the measures taken to prevent repeated violations of intellectual property rights.

The notification emphasized that copyright infringement in India is not just a civil offense, but also a criminal offense punishable under the Copyright Act of 1957 and the Cinema Act of 1952, along with the obligations of digital platforms as stipulated in the Information Technology Act of 2000 and the Rules of 2021.

The government warned that continued availability of pirated content or non-compliance with the required procedures or submission of an incomplete response may lead to further legal action against the platform.

This escalation comes after a previous campaign by Indian authorities resulted in the blocking of over three thousand channels on Telegram for distributing copyrighted movies and content, reflecting a shift from pursuing individual channels to holding digital platforms more accountable in combating piracy.