What happened: takedown directions for film piracy URLs
The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting announced that the Government strengthened the legal and institutional framework to curb online piracy of cinematograph films, including unauthorized dissemination through intermediaries such as Telegram. After receiving complaints related to film piracy, the Ministry issued notifications directing intermediaries to remove or disable unlawful content, using statutory provisions connected to the Cinematograph framework and the Information Technology Act, 2000.
As part of the announced anti-piracy action, intermediaries were directed to disable 7,393 URLs for film piracy. The disabled URLs included 1,263 websites and 4,996 Telegram channels. The Government information was shared by the Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs, Dr. L. Murugan, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.
Background: intermediary obligations and procedural basis under IT law
The Government stated that the Cinematograph Act, 1952 was amended through the Cinematograph (Amendment) Act, 2023 to introduce specific provisions to curb unauthorized recording and exhibition of films. The announcement links the film-specific amendment with the intermediary removal/disable mechanism in the Information Technology Act, 2000.
The Government statement cites Section 79(3) of the IT Act, 2000, which provides for government notification to intermediaries for removing or disabling access to unlawful content. The statement also cites Section 79(3)(b), which describes notification by appropriate Governments to intermediaries for removal or disablement.