 has issued an official notice to Telegram, directing the instant messaging platform){kind=link}
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) has issued an official notice to Telegram, directing the instant messaging platform to take immediate action against the widespread circulation of pirated films and OTT content. Telegram has been given a strict 15-day ultimatum to submit an Action Taken Report (ATR) detailing its enforcement measures.
The government’s crackdown aims to protect the domestic creator economy, broadcasters, OTT platforms, producers, and distributors from the financial damages of online digital piracy.
Core Regulatory Actions
- Mass Target of Infringing Channels: Following formal complaints from various content owners and streaming platforms, the I&B Ministry identified a total of 3,142 Telegram channels actively distributing copyrighted movies, web series, and exclusive digital content without authorization.
- Legal Framework: The notice has been served under the Information Technology Act, 2000 and the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021. Under these guidelines, digital intermediaries are legally mandated to remove unlawful or copyrighted content swiftly upon receiving valid government directives or court orders.
Expanded Scrutiny: Notices to Telegram and Signal Over Username Features
In a separate but concurrent regulatory move, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) expanded its oversight regarding the “username” feature on secure messaging apps, serving notices to both Telegram and Signal.
This follows a recent warning sent to Meta regarding WhatsApp’s upcoming rollout of an optional, unique username identifier (using the @ symbol) that allows users to communicate without revealing their phone numbers.
While tech platforms market usernames as a tool for enhanced personal privacy, the Central government has raised serious red flags, expressing concerns that the feature could be weaponized by cybercriminals. Specifically, the government warns that the lack of phone number visibility could facilitate:
- A material increase in phishing and online fraud.
- “Digital arrest” scams and sophisticated impersonation attacks.
- Identity spoofing of private individuals, financial institutions, public authorities, and government agencies through lookalike usernames.
Both Telegram and Signal must now explain the technical architecture of their username features and declare the structural safeguards in place to prevent identity theft and misuse.