New Delhi, March 12 -- The Union ministry of information and broadcasting (MIB) has directed messaging platform Telegram to disable access to over 3,000 channels distributing pirated movies, web series and audiobooks, invoking intermediary liability provisions under the Information Technology Act and giving the platform just three hours to comply.

In a notification dated March 11, the ministry said several Telegram channels had made available content owned or licensed by film studios, OTT platforms and producers without authorisation, in violation of the Copyright Act, 1957.

"This is a complaint-based mechanism. We received complaints from multiple sources like content owners, OTT platforms and civil society on the pirated content, henc...