Government Cracks Down on Telegram Over Copyright Violations

The central government has directed Telegram to disable over 3,100 channels for breaching the Copyright Act, 1957. These channels were found distributing copyrighted content without authorization. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has ordered their removal within three hours to ensure compliance.

The central government on Wednesday ordered the instant messaging platform Telegram to shut down over 3,100 channels within three hours. The directive comes after identifying these channels in violation of the Copyright Act, 1957.

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, upon discovering that these channels were sharing content owned by or licensed to content owners, OTT platforms, and producers without legal consent, issued the order. The move emphasizes the government's stance on protecting intellectual property rights.

Joint Secretary C Senthil Rajan elaborated in a notification that unlawful content had been disseminated via the platform. The order mandates Telegram to eradicate and block access to the specified channels quickly, ensuring that evidence is preserved.

(With inputs from agencies.)