Centre Blocks 1,263 Websites, 4,996 Telegram Channels Over Film Piracy
In his letter, Vaishnaw said the government recognises the serious impact of piracy on the film industry and has strengthened the legal framework to enable authorities to act more effectively against platforms involved in copyright infringement
The Central government has blocked 1,263 websites and 4,996 Telegram channels for circulating or facilitating the distribution of pirated films, as part of a nationwide crackdown on digital piracy.
The action was disclosed by Union Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in a letter to Union Minister of State Suresh Gopi, who had sought stronger measures to curb online film piracy. The crackdown has been carried out under the provisions of the Cinematograph (Amendment) Act, 2023, which strengthens the legal framework against online piracy and copyright violations.
Speaking to Malayalam media, Gopi said efforts to tackle piracy gathered momentum following a meeting of the South Indian Film Producers Association (SIFPA) in Hyderabad. He noted that only one Malayalam film, Prithviraj Sukumaran-starrer I Nobody, has been released since the initiative began and that no pirated copy of the film has surfaced so far.
In his letter, Vaishnaw said the government recognises the serious impact of piracy on the film industry and has strengthened the legal framework to enable authorities to act more effectively against platforms involved in copyright infringement.
He added that the ministry has set up a dedicated grievance mechanism to address complaints and is developing an anti-piracy portal to coordinate complaints and facilitate faster enforcement. The minister also assured that stricter measures would be taken to curb online piracy.
Suresh Gopi had earlier urged the Centre to intensify its anti-piracy efforts, describing piracy as one of the biggest challenges facing the Indian film industry.