Centre asks Telegram to remove pirated content, flags over 3,100 channels

New Delhi: The Centre has issued a notice to Telegram asking the platform to remove pirated content following complaints from several OTT services about large-scale sharing of copyrighted movies and web series.

The notice was issued by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting under the Information Technology Act, 2000, directing the messaging platform to take action against channels involved in distributing illegal content.

The move follows complaints from OTT platforms such as JioCinema and Amazon Prime Video, which alleged that their copyrighted movies and web series were being widely circulated on Telegram without authorisation.

After reviewing the complaints, authorities reportedly identified 3,142 Telegram channels that were allegedly sharing pirated content, including films, web series and other copyrighted material.

Officials said that certain features of Telegram — including the ability to share large files and maintain user anonymity — have been misused by some users to distribute pirated content on a large scale.

The development comes days after the ministry banned five OTT platforms — MoodXVIP, Koyal Playpro, Digi Movieplex, Feel and Jugnu — for allegedly streaming obscene content.

Earlier, in July 2025, the government had also ordered the blocking of websites and apps linked to 25 OTT platforms accused of hosting content considered obscene, vulgar or pornographic.

These platforms included ALTT, ULLU, Big Shots App, Desiflix, Boomex, Navarasa Lite, Gulab App, Kangan App, Bull App, Jalva App, ShowHit, Wow Entertainment, Look Entertainment, Hitprime, Feneo, ShowX, Sol Talkies, Adda TV, HotX VIP, Hulchul App, MoodX, NeonX VIP, Fugi, Mojflix and Triflicks.

Under Rule 3(1)(b) of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, online platforms are prohibited from hosting or publishing content that is obscene, pornographic, invasive of privacy, insulting on the basis of gender, racially or ethnically objectionable, or that promotes hate or violence.

Officials said the latest notice to Telegram is part of the government’s broader efforts to tackle online piracy and regulate objectionable digital content across online platforms.

With inputs from IANS