New Delhi: In one of the biggest digital crackdowns yet, the government has disabled more than 3,100 Telegram channels and nearly 800 websites accused of hosting pirated films and shows.
The action was revealed in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday by Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting L Murugan.
Murugan said the move follows the Cinematograph (Amendment) Act, 2023, which introduced tougher provisions against piracy. Sections 6AA and 6AB prohibit unauthorized recording and transmission of films, while Section 7(1A) prescribes penalties ranging from three months to three years in jail, along with fines between Rs 3 lakh and up to 5% of a film's production cost.
On March 11, 2026, Telegram was formally notified under the IT Act to remove 3,142 channels illegally sharing content owned by producers and OTT platforms. Access to around 800 piracy websites was also blocked through internet service providers.
These measures aim to protect India's film industry from massive revenue losses and send a strong deterrent message to digital pirates.