India, July 4 -- The government of India has issued a notice to messaging platform Telegram, asking it to take action within 15 days over "widespread dissemination of pirated films, OTT content and other audio-visual material".

Telegram has been asked to strengthen systems for detection, reporting, disabling access to and removal of pirated films and infringing audio-visual content, according to the I&B ministry notice issued on Saturday.

The action has been taken to protect India's creator economy, film industry, broadcasters, OTT platforms, producers, and distributors.

Telegram has also been directed to act against what the I&B ministry described as repeat infringers, including channels, groups, bots, accounts, administrators and ass...