Crackdown on Piracy: Over 3,900 Channels and Websites Disabled

In a significant move to curb film piracy, over 3,100 Telegram channels and approximately 800 websites have been disabled following the Indian government's directive. Union Minister L Murugan informed the Lok Sabha of this extensive crackdown at a legislative briefing.

The action comes in the wake of the Cinematograph (Amendment) Act, 2023, which fortifies existing legal measures against piracy. Sections 6AA and 6AB of the Act specifically target unauthorized recording and transmission of films, establishing severe penalties for violators. In particular, offenders now face a minimum jail term of three months and fines starting at Rs 3 lakh, with potential increases up to three years' imprisonment and fines amounting to five percent of the film's audited gross production cost.

Furthermore, the government has engaged with online platforms directly implicated in distributing pirated content. Through Section 79(3)(b) of the IT Act, 2000, the Telegram App was officially notified on March 11, 2026, to eliminate 3,142 infringing channels, ensuring compliance with the Copyright Act, 1957. Additionally, Internet Service Providers (ISPs) were instrumental in disabling access to websites featuring illicit content.