India Gives Telegram 15 Days to Act Against Movie Piracy

India Gives Telegram 15 Days to Act Against Movie Piracy

The Indian government has given Telegram a 15-day deadline to take strong action against the spread of pirated movies and television series on its platform. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has instructed the messaging service to stop copyright violations and submit a formal report explaining the steps it has taken. The move signals a tougher approach, with authorities seeking broader changes instead of action against individual channels alone.

Government Seeks Platform-Level Responsibility

According to the provided information, the government is no longer satisfied with blocking or removing individual Telegram channels that share pirated content. Instead, officials want the platform itself to be held responsible for preventing copyright violations.

This marks a significant change in the government's approach. Rather than relying on reports from authorities before taking action, Telegram is expected to strengthen its own systems to reduce the spread of illegal content across the platform.

New Moderation Measures Expected

The notice requires Telegram to introduce independent and proactive moderation mechanisms. These measures should help prevent piracy before it spreads instead of removing channels only after receiving official notifications.

The government has also asked Telegram to provide a formal report within 15 days, outlining the actions taken to address the issue and improve its content moderation process.

Deadline Could Affect Telegram's Operations

The notice could become an important development for Telegram's future operations in India. The government has linked the matter to the country's copyright laws, making compliance an important requirement for the platform.

According to the source, copyright infringement in India can lead to both civil and criminal liabilities. The Copyright Act of 1957 and the Cinematograph Act of 1952 provide sanctions for violations related to copyrighted content.

Existing Legal Framework

The government has referred to the country's existing legal framework while issuing the notice. Officials have indicated that the laws already provide penalties for copyright violations, increasing pressure on the platform to respond within the given timeframe.

The latest notice therefore requires Telegram not only to address current piracy concerns but also to improve the way it monitors and controls illegal content in the future.

Previous Requests From Security Agencies

The source also states that Indian security agencies had previously asked Telegram and Signal to disable anonymous messaging features. The request was aimed at preventing illegal activities carried out through anonymous communication.

In addition, the government temporarily restricted Telegram's operations last month, adding to the regulatory pressure facing the messaging platform.

Growing Legal Pressure

The source notes that Telegram is widely used in countries including Uzbekistan. It says that the increasing legal pressure from different jurisdictions could eventually lead the platform to make broader changes to its privacy and content moderation policies.

At present, the immediate requirement for Telegram is to respond to the Indian government's notice, implement stronger anti-piracy measures, and submit its compliance report within the 15-day deadline.

(Source; Ary News)