TGCSB, Telugu Film Chamber join hands to curb digital film piracy in Telangana

Hyderabad: To counter the rising threat of digital film piracy, the Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB) and the Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce (TFCC) on Monday entered a formal Memorandum of Understanding to enable real-time monitoring, swift takedowns and coordinated legal action against online copyright violations affecting the Telugu film industry.

The MoU was signed by TGCSB director Shikha Goel and TFCC president Daggubati Suresh Babu, in the presence of Telangana Director General of Police (DGP) B Shivadhar Reddy.

Movie piracy cybercrime became organised and high-tech

Officials said digital piracy has evolved into a highly organised and time-sensitive cybercrime ecosystem, operating through websites, social media platforms, messaging groups, IPTV streams, mobile applications and camcording networks, often within minutes of a film’s release.

The MoU seeks to institutionalise mechanisms for real-time intelligence sharing, rapid escalation, swift takedowns and coordinated legal action against organised piracy syndicates.

Key areas of collaboration

Under the agreement, TGCSB and TFCC will jointly focus on:

- Real-time monitoring and intelligence sharing on piracy networks and infringing digital platforms.

- Deployment of TFCC Anti-Piracy Agents at the TGCSB Integrated Command & Control Centre (ICCC) for seamless coordination.

- Swift legal action on verified complaints and digital evidence, with TGCSB as the nodal supervisory agency.

- Expedited takedown and blocking of pirated content in coordination with intermediaries, ISPs, OTT platforms, social media companies and app stores.

- Use of advanced technology tools such as automated crawlers, analytics and content identification systems.

- Joint awareness initiatives to educate stakeholders and the public on the impact of piracy and the importance of intellectual property protection.

The MoU also provides for regular review meetings, coordinated action during major film releases and the development of standard operating procedures for piracy-related cybercrime investigations.

Digital piracy – one of the most time-sensitive forms of cybercrime

Addressing the gathering, DGP B Shivadhar Reddy said digital piracy requires continuous and close coordination between law enforcement and industry stakeholders.

He described the MoU as a major step towards institutionalising anti-piracy enforcement and safeguarding creative and economic interests.

TGCSB Director Shikha Goel noted that digital piracy is among the most time-sensitive forms of cybercrime, where even a delay of a few minutes can lead to irreversible losses for filmmakers.

She said the agreement establishes a structured mechanism for faster intelligence sharing, immediate legal intervention and seamless coordination between the industry and law enforcement.

Film industry welcomes initiative

TFCC President Daggubati Suresh Babu said Telangana has been at the forefront of the fight against digital piracy, citing recent crackdowns on major piracy syndicates such as Tamil-blasters and iBomma.

He noted that the Telugu film industry is the only one in the country with a dedicated Anti-Piracy Cell for over 15 years and described the MoU as a breakthrough initiative.

Rajkumar Akella, Chairman, Anti-video Piracy Cell, TFCC, said real-time escalation of copyright infringements is critical to containing losses and expressed confidence that the initiative would yield strong results against piracy networks.

The MoU signing ceremony was attended by senior TGCSB officers and prominent members of the Telugu film industry, including Dil Raju, Chairman, Telangana Film Development Corporation, senior producers and representatives of the Film Chamber.

For a secure digital ecosystem

The agreement underscores Telangana’s leadership in building a secure digital ecosystem that protects creative content and intellectual property, while strengthening cyber enforcement through structured public-industry collaboration.

Officials said the initiative sets a benchmark for coordinated anti-piracy action and reinforces the State’s position as a frontrunner in technology-enabled cybercrime prevention.