Cyber Cops Tie Up Film Chambers To Fight Movie Piracy

Hyderabad: In a major step to combat digital film piracy, the Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce (TFCC) to launch a coordinated action against online piracy.

The MoU was signed in the presence of Director General of Police B. Shivadhar Reddy, TGCSB director Shikha Goel and Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce president D. Suresh Babu. Suresh Babu said, “This is the first-of-its-kind initiative in India. We are thankful to Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and DGP Shivadhar Reddy for initiating this process.”

DGP Shivadhar Reddy stated that digital piracy had evolved into an organised cybercrime ecosystem and required continuous coordination between law enforcement and industry stakeholders. He said the MoU marked a significant step towards institutionalising anti-piracy enforcement and protecting creative and economic interests.

Shikha Goel, TGCSB director, said that digital piracy was among the most time-sensitive and rapidly evolving forms of cybercrime, where a delay of even a few minutes could result in significant and irreversible losses to filmmakers and rights holders. She noted that piracy operated through organised networks leveraging multiple digital platforms, requiring swift identification, real-time escalation, and coordinated enforcement action.

She stated that the MoU establishes a structured mechanism for faster intelligence sharing, immediate legal intervention, and seamless coordination between the film industry and law enforcement agencies. This collaboration, she added, strengthens operational efficiency,

Explaining the operational changes under the MoU, Suresh Babu said that a few members of the TFCC anti-piracy team will be stationed directly at the Cyber Security Bureau.

“They will share information in real time and participate in monitoring, swift takedowns, and coordinated legal action against piracy across websites, social media platforms, messaging apps, IPTV streams, and mobile applications,” he added.

Highlighting the growing threat of cybercrime, the TFCC president stressed the need for stronger measures. “Cybercrime is a much bigger menace than many realise. Its intensity is not fully understood, and we need to constantly upgrade our approach and response,” he said.

Responding to a question on whether movie piracy had already been controlled following the arrest of iBomma founder Ravi and others, Suresh Babu said that such actions alone are not sufficient. “It is not a one-time solution. The arrest of the founders of iBomma and Tamil Busters is a positive step, but we need to remain extremely cautious and persistent in curbing this menace due to technological advancement,” he pointed out.

While several hacked servers used for piracy have been brought under control, he said the major challenge remains inside theatres. “Camcording is a serious issue, and it has to be tackled sternly with strict enforcement. If properly addressed, it can help save substantial revenues for the film industry, which unfortunately is not happening at the desired level right now,” he concluded.