The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has issued a notice to Telegram under the Information Technology Act, 2000 directing the platform to remove pirated content.
The action follows complaints from several OTT platforms alleging large-scale distribution of copyrighted material through channels operating on the messaging service.
OTT Platforms Flag Piracy Concerns
According to the ministry, complaints were received from streaming platforms including JioCinema and Amazon Prime Video, among others.
The platforms alleged that pirated copies of films and OTT shows were being widely circulated on Telegram channels, raising concerns over copyright violations.
Over 3,100 Channels Identified
Following the complaints, the ministry examined the issue and identified 3,142 Telegram channels involved in distributing pirated content.
The channels were found to be sharing films and OTT content without authorisation, according to the ministry’s findings.
The notice directs Telegram to remove the identified pirated material from its platform.
