The Central government has blocked 1,263 websites and 4,996 Telegram channels for allegedly hosting or distributing pirated films and other copyright-infringing content as part of a nationwide crackdown on digital piracy.
The information was shared by Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting and Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw in a reply dated July 22 to Union Minister of State Suresh Gopi. The response came after Gopi raised concerns about the growing impact of digital piracy on the Indian film industry.
According to Vaishnaw, the action was taken under the provisions of the Cinematograph (Amendment) Act, 2023, which strengthened the legal framework for tackling online piracy and copyright violations.
The minister said the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting acted on piracy complaints by directing intermediaries to disable a total of 7,393 URLs, including 1,263 websites and 4,996 Telegram channels found to be hosting or distributing infringing content.
Vaishnaw said the government recognises the serious impact of online piracy on the film industry and has introduced stronger legal measures to curb the illegal circulation of copyrighted content. He added that the amended law empowers authorities to take action against intermediaries facilitating piracy and has led to the creation of an institutional mechanism within the ministry to handle piracy-related complaints.
To strengthen enforcement further, the Centre has also constituted an Inter-Ministerial Committee and is developing a dedicated Anti-Piracy Portal. The portal is expected to provide a centralised platform for receiving complaints and coordinating action against copyright violations.
The minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to working with stakeholders to strengthen anti-piracy enforcement and protect the interests of content creators and rights holders.
Earlier, Suresh Gopi had urged the Centre to intensify action against organised piracy networks, calling digital piracy one of the biggest challenges facing the Indian film industry. He also highlighted that piracy networks have become increasingly sophisticated and expressed concern that delays in film certification by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) could expose producers to financial losses.
The government’s latest crackdown comes amid growing concerns over online piracy, which continues to affect box office collections and the commercial success of films despite stricter copyright laws.
