Centre blocks 4,996 Telegram channels, 1,263 websites in anti-piracy crackdown
Under the Information Technology Rules, 2021, intermediaries are required to remove any content that violates any law for the time being in force.
The central government has taken significant measures to combat online piracy, banning 4,996 Telegram channels and 1,263 websites. This crackdown is part of a broader effort to strengthen the legal and institutional framework for addressing issues such as unauthorised film distribution through intermediaries. The Cinematograph Act, amended in 2023, introduced new provisions to tackle such issues.
These measures are in line with various legal provisions, including Section 79(3)(b) of the Information Technology Act, 2000, and the Information Technology Rules, 2021. The government, through the ministry of information and broadcasting, has issued notifications to intermediaries requiring them to remove or disable access to infringing content.
Additionally, a joint secretary overseeing films has been authorised to issue content takedown notices under the IT Rules and Cinematograph Act. An institutional mechanism within the ministry also receives complaints from copyright holders about pirated content on the internet, issuing notifications to intermediaries accordingly.
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