Indian Government Orders Telegram to Remove Pirated Content in 15 Days

The Union Government of India has issued a directive to the popular messaging platform Telegram, demanding the removal of pirated films and copyrighted material from its service within a strict timeframe of 15 days. This announcement, made by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, highlights the government’s increasing focus on regulating digital platforms and ensuring compliance with copyright laws.

As part of this directive, Telegram is required to submit a report detailing the actions taken to comply with the order. Failure to adhere to this directive could result in legal repercussions under the Information Technology Act of 2000, as well as the Information Technology Rules. This is not the first time Telegram has faced scrutiny for hosting pirated content; earlier this year, the platform was instructed to eliminate over 3,000 channels associated with such illegal activities.

The latest notice comes on the heels of a broader initiative by the Union Government to enhance accountability among digital communication services. Just a day prior, officials sought information from both Telegram and Signal regarding the measures they have implemented to combat fraud and impersonation through their username-based communication systems. Furthermore, WhatsApp has been asked to pause the rollout of a similar feature that could potentially facilitate misuse.

In its communication to Telegram, the ministry emphasized the importance of establishing robust mechanisms to identify, report, and eliminate access to pirated content. The government’s approach marks a notable shift towards holding platforms accountable for the material shared by their users, rather than relying solely on reactive measures. This initiative aims to address the persistent issue of copyright infringement, which is recognized not only as a civil violation but also a criminal offense under the 1957 Copyright Act and the 1952 Cinematograph Act.

Industry experts suggest that this move could set a precedent for stricter regulations across various digital communication platforms in India. As the usage of such applications continues to rise, particularly post-pandemic, the challenge of regulating content and protecting intellectual property rights grows increasingly complex. The government appears determined to enforce a more stringent framework to ensure compliance with copyright laws and to safeguard the interests of content creators.

Source: scroll.in