Messaging platform Telegram, already under the Centre’s scrutiny, has now received another notice over alleged dissemination of pirated films and OTT content. 

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has directed Telegram to submit an Action Taken Report within 15 days, PTI reported. It has also sought details regarding the platform’s grievance redressal mechanism available for producers, OTT networks, and law enforcement agencies.

The I&B ministry further noted that copyright infringement constitutes both a civil violation and a criminal offence under the Copyright Act, 1957, and the Cinematograph Act, 1952. 

While the government has largely taken a channel-by-channel approach to taking down pirated content, officials say it is now focusing on enforcing platform-wide accountability. The authorities have warned Telegram of strict legal action in case pirated content continues to be available on the app or if its response is incomplete or evasive. 

Telegram has been facing a lot of heat over cybercrime concerns in recent weeks. Last month, MeitY temporarily banned the app until June 22 over its alleged use for selling fake access to exam papers, spreading misinformation and fabricating “paper leak” evidence. 

The government, in a court submission, said it identified a Telegram channel titled “NEET Mafia”, which had around 18,617 subscribers and was allegedly disseminating content around paper leaks, advance booking arrangements, payment collection mechanisms and examination-related material. 

Despite Telegram’s appeal, the Delhi High Court ultimately upheld the government’s restriction order. While access to the app was reinstated after the exam, the Narcotics Control Bureau, in its recently published annual report for 2025, called out Telegram for enabling drug-related advertising. The report specifically noted that Telegram’s features like auto-deletion of messages, anonymous username-based identities, and ability to create multiple accounts made it difficult to trace illicit activity on the app. 

Furthermore, the Centre yesterday sent notices to Telegram and another messaging platform Signal seeking details on how they are addressing concerns over cybercrime risks related to their username features. The government had earlier directed Meta-owned WhatsApp to pause its rollout of the same feature over similar concerns and given the platform three days to submit a detailed explanation. 

The Centre’s key concern is that enabling users to connect with each other by using usernames rather than phone numbers could enable impersonation and fraud. 

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