Government sends notice to Telegram for hosting pirated content on thousands of channels

The Indian government has formally issued a notice to Telegram, the messaging app, concerning the circulation of pirated content across its platform. Authorities have identified over 3,100 channels on Telegram that were reportedly sharing copyrighted material without proper authorization. The notice emphasises that distribution of pirated media is illegal and violates intellectual property rights. The government has requested Telegram to take down the offending content immediately and to implement stricter monitoring mechanisms to prevent future violations. This step is part of a larger push by Indian regulatory authorities to curb online piracy, which has been a persistent issue affecting the entertainment industry, software developers, and other content creators. Officials have also highlighted that platforms like Telegram, which allow the creation of public channels and groups, must assume responsibility for the content shared by their users. The government has warned that continued non-compliance could lead to legal consequences and further regulatory action. This notice underlines the increasing scrutiny of digital platforms in India, reflecting the authorities’ efforts to enforce copyright laws more stringently in the digital era.