Govt Blocks 7,393 Film Piracy Links

• Government disables 7,393 piracy-related URLs across digital platforms.
• Action includes blocking 4,996 Telegram channels and 1,263 websites.
• New legal provisions empower authorities to remove pirated film content.
• Ministry sets up institutional mechanism for faster copyright enforcement.

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 5th Aug: The Central Government has intensified its crackdown on online film piracy by directing intermediaries to disable 7,393 piracy-related URLs, including 4,996 Telegram channels and 1,263 websites, under the strengthened legal framework introduced through the Cinematograph (Amendment) Act, 2023.

According to information shared in the Lok Sabha, the amendment to the Cinematograph Act, 1952 introduced specific provisions to curb the unauthorised recording and online dissemination of cinematograph films. The newly inserted Section 7(1B)(ii) empowers the Government to initiate action against intermediaries hosting pirated content under the provisions of the Information Technology Act, 2000.

Under the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, intermediaries are required to remove or disable access to unlawful content upon receiving a court order or a notification from the appropriate government or its authorised agency.

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has authorised the Joint Secretary (Films) to issue content takedown notices to intermediaries and has established an institutional mechanism to receive complaints from copyright holders regarding pirated copies of films available online.

As part of the enforcement drive, intermediaries have been directed to disable 7,393 URLs, comprising 1,263 websites and 4,996 Telegram channels, involved in the unauthorised distribution of cinematograph films.

The information was provided by Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs Dr. L. Murugan in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.