Government Directs Telegram to Proactively Detect and Remove Pirated Content
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) has issued a notice to Telegram, directing the messaging platform to take proactive measures to detect and remove pirated content hosted on its platform.
According to a senior government official, Telegram has been asked to respond to the Ministry's notice within 15 days.
Government Seeks Stronger Anti-Piracy Measures
The latest notice marks a significant escalation in the government's efforts to combat online piracy. Authorities are no longer satisfied with reactive takedowns and are now demanding that Telegram actively identify and prevent the circulation of copyrighted material.
"The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has demanded that Telegram take proactive action in detecting and taking down pirated content on its platform," a senior official said.
Fresh Tensions Between India and Telegram
The development comes shortly after the Indian government imposed a week-long restriction on Telegram ahead of the rescheduled National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET).
Telegram has faced increasing scrutiny over its handling of copyright infringement and misinformation concerns.
Telegram Faces Long-Standing Piracy Allegations
Telegram has been named in multiple court cases over alleged delays in responding to piracy complaints.
Because the platform allows users to upload very large files to public channels free of charge, it has become a major hub for distributing:
- Pirated movies
- TV series
- Books
- Newspapers
- Other copyrighted content
This has drawn criticism from publishers and entertainment companies, who argue that Telegram has become one of the largest sources of online piracy.
Telegram Yet to Respond
Telegram founder Pavel Durov has previously stated that the company spends tens of millions of dollars operating in India without recovering those costs.
At the time of publication, a Telegram spokesperson had not commented on the Ministry's latest notice.
Earlier Order Removed Over 3,100 Piracy URLs
The I&B Ministry had already directed Telegram in March 2026 to remove more than 3,100 URLs hosting copyrighted content.
Telegram complied with that directive.
However, officials now believe individual takedown orders are insufficient.
Government Wants Platform Accountability
According to the official note accompanying the notice, the government wants a:
"Clear shift from piecemeal takedown to platform accountability."
The notice reminds Telegram that intermediaries are required to exercise due diligence under the Information Technology Act and the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.
IT Rules Require Reasonable Efforts Against Copyright Violations
Under Rule 3(1)(b) of the Information Technology Rules, 2021, intermediaries must make reasonable efforts to prevent users from sharing content that infringes:
- Copyright
- Trademarks
- Patents
- Other proprietary rights
The government believes platforms should not rely solely on user complaints but should also implement proactive detection mechanisms.
Delhi High Court Upheld Telegram Restriction During NEET
Telegram recently challenged the government's week-long restriction in the Delhi High Court.
The National Testing Agency (NTA) argued that the temporary restriction was necessary to prevent misinformation regarding alleged exam paper leaks facilitated through Telegram's message timestamp features.
Justice Tejas Karia ruled that the temporary restriction was legal and proportionate.
Username Feature Also Under Government Scrutiny
Following the court proceedings, Telegram also received a notice from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) regarding its username feature.
The feature allows users to communicate without revealing their phone numbers.
The government has expressed concerns that anonymous usernames could make misuse more difficult to trace.
Similar notices were reportedly sent to:
- Signal
Messaging platform Arattai, developed by Zoho Corporation, confirmed that it disabled the feature after receiving the government's notice.
As of publication, Telegram's username feature remains available.
What This Means
The latest notice signals a broader policy shift by the Indian government toward holding digital platforms directly accountable for preventing copyright infringement, rather than responding only after complaints are filed.
If implemented, Telegram may be required to introduce automated systems capable of detecting and removing pirated content before it spreads across the platform.