Home / Technology / Govt Clamps Down on Telegram Piracy
Govt Clamps Down on Telegram Piracy
11 Mar
Summary
- Telegram faces government order to remove pirated movies and web series.
- Over 3,000 Telegram channels identified distributing copyrighted material.
- Government acts to curb online piracy and regulate objectionable content.
The government has issued a notice to Telegram, mandating the removal of pirated content from its platform. This directive comes after numerous complaints from Over-The-Top (OTT) streaming services, including JioCinema and Amazon Prime Video, regarding the widespread sharing of their copyrighted movies and web series. Authorities identified a significant number of Telegram channels, specifically 3,142, alleged to be involved in distributing this unauthorized material.
Features of Telegram, such as its capacity for large file sharing and user anonymity, are reported to have been exploited for large-scale piracy. This recent action by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting follows previous government measures against objectionable content. Days prior, five OTT platforms were banned for streaming obscene material. Earlier in July 2025, 25 other platforms faced similar action for content deemed vulgar or pornographic.
These steps align with the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, which prohibit the hosting of content that is obscene, invasive of privacy, or promotes hate. The current directive underscores the government's ongoing commitment to tackling online piracy and regulating digital media.
