New Delhi — India’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) on Tuesday sent a formal notice to the messaging platform Telegram, urging the company to take “proactive and timely” steps to curb the sharing of pirated material on its channels. The ministry cited a series of court cases in which courts have criticized Telegram for delayed or insufficient action after receiving reports of copyright infringement.
The notice, addressed to Telegram’s India operations, references three recent judgments from the Delhi High Court, the Bombay High Court and the Calcutta High Court. In each case, plaintiffs alleged that Telegram failed to remove infringing content despite repeated takedown requests, prompting the courts to direct the platform to implement stricter monitoring mechanisms.
“The Ministry is closely monitoring the situation and expects Telegram to cooperate fully with law‑enforcement agencies and rights‑holders,” the notice reads. “Any continued non‑compliance will attract appropriate legal action under the Information Technology Act and the Copyright Act.”
Telegram’s Indian spokesperson, who declined to comment on the specifics of the notice, previously stated that the company relies on user reports and that it removes content that violates its terms of service. The spokesperson added that the platform is “committed to complying with all applicable laws in India.”
Legal experts note that while Telegram’s encrypted, cloud‑based architecture makes it technically challenging to police content, the company is not immune from court orders. “The courts have clearly indicated that the platform must act swiftly once notified of infringing material,” said a senior advocate specializing in intellectual‑property law. “Failure to do so can result in contempt proceedings or liability for facilitating piracy.”
The I&B Ministry’s move follows a broader crackdown on digital piracy in India, including recent raids on illegal streaming sites and heightened enforcement of the 2023 amendment to the Copyright Act, which expands liability for online intermediaries that do not act on infringement notices within 24 hours.
Rights‑holder groups have welcomed the ministry’s notice. A representative of the Indian Film and Television Producers’ Guild said, “Telegram is a major conduit for illegal distribution of movies and TV shows. Prompt action is essential to protect creators’ revenues.”
Telegram has faced similar pressure in other jurisdictions. In the United Kingdom, the platform was ordered by the High Court to block access to certain piracy channels, and in the United States, it has been named in lawsuits alleging facilitation of copyright infringement.
The ministry has set a deadline of 15 days for Telegram to submit a compliance plan detailing the steps it will take to identify and remove pirated content. The notice also warns that “repeated violations will attract stringent action, including possible suspension of services in India.”
Analysis: The ministry’s renewed demand reflects growing frustration among Indian authorities over the difficulty of policing encrypted, decentralized platforms. While Telegram argues that its policy relies on user reports, courts have increasingly held that intermediaries must adopt more proactive monitoring. The 15‑day compliance timeline suggests the ministry is preparing to move beyond notices to enforceable penalties if the platform does not demonstrate measurable progress. Rights‑holder groups are likely to monitor Telegram’s response closely, and any failure to meet the ministry’s expectations could result in further legal restrictions or even a ban on the app’s operations in the country.
Sources
– The Hindu, “I&B ministry issues fresh notice to Telegram on pirated content,” https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/technology/ib-ministry-issues-fresh-notice-to-telegram-on-pirated-content/article71182104.ece
Story synopsis gathered from: The Hindu – National — source
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