India’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has issued a notice to Telegram over pirated films and OTT content. The ministry wants an Action Taken Report within 15 days, according to officials cited by The Indian Express. It has reportedly asked the platform to detail how it will curb repeat copyright violations. Officials have framed the step as a move from case-by-case takedowns toward platform accountability.
The notice also warns that copyright infringement can carry criminal liability, not just civil penalties. It lands days after separate notices to messaging apps over username features. It also follows a brief block on the app in June, tied to NEET exam leaks. With this move, Indian govt. targets Telegram, with a wider message being as to how far intermediaries must go to police themselves.
What the Indian Govt. Notice Demands
The ministry has asked Telegram to strengthen how it detects, reports, and removes pirated content. That request comes from officials cited by The Indian Express. The notice reportedly targets repeat infringers, including channels, groups, bots, accounts, administrators, and linked entities. Telegram must also submit an Action Taken Report within 15 days, listing the steps it plans to take. The ministry has separately sought details of Telegram’s grievance redressal system for producers, OTT platforms, and law enforcement.
Hello @MIB_India, a little bird anonymously shared the notice you sent to telegram. Would you please confirm and authenticate its contents? https://t.co/CCOKybQxvF pic.twitter.com/TVD0yyCbyx
— Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF) (@internetfreedom) July 4, 2026
Officials describe the notice as a shift from piecemeal takedowns to platform accountability. A reactive, channel-by-channel approach may not meet the due diligence expected of intermediaries, they reportedly said. That standard flows from the Information Technology Act, 2000, and the IT Rules, 2021. The ministry has also reminded Telegram that copyright infringement can be a criminal offence. It cited the Copyright Act, 1957, and the Cinematograph Act, 1952. The government has already acted against more than 3,000 Telegram channels carrying pirated content. It has warned that evasive or incomplete compliance could invite further legal action.
Piracy Concerns Not Limited to Just Telegram
The notice is the second to reach Telegram within a week. Earlier, the IT ministry sent notices to Telegram, WhatsApp, and Signal over their username features. Telegram has faced sustained scrutiny in India this year. The Centre briefly blocked the app in June, until June 22, over leaked NEET exam material. WhatsApp and Signal now sit under similar pressure, which points to a platform-wide approach rather than a single-app fight.
Digital rights pushback
Not everyone reads the recent notices the same way. The Internet Freedom Foundation, a digital rights group, has criticized the government’s recent wave of notices to messaging apps. It has questioned the scope of that push, including why Signal was drawn in. The government’s stated aim is narrower. Officials say the action protects India’s creator economy, film industry, broadcasters, and OTT platforms. Both framings will be tested by how Telegram responds, and by how effective are such enforcements. As of now Telegram has not issued a public response to the notice at press time, leaving the platform’s plan unclear as the 15-day window runs.
Users Frustrated Upon Telegram Ban
General sentiment towards the exam leak is unanimous, and against such trends, however other users are actively taking to other social media platforms such as reddit to share their views. Few such users discussed their tips and tricks into getting Telegram to work after the ban within the country.
Comment
by u/Visible-Cookie-5105 from discussion
in IndiaTech
Few others suggested that Govt. should promote other alternatives than banning, and that the approach is right up unjust. One such example amongst the discussion was Hike, a messaging app which was made in India. Although other platforms such as WhatsApp, Signal etc are at an advantage with this situation, another section of critics agree that banning is the right way to go forward.
Comment
by u/look_45 from discussion
in teenagers
Pavel Durov, the CEO of Telegram has been vocal about unfair bans on his app, but agreeing to fully cooperate rooting out leaks. The ball is in his court post the notice issued by the Indian govt.
