Dailymotion is one of the world’s largest video-sharing platforms, hosting hundreds of millions of videos across entertainment, news, sports, and more. In India, it has had a chequered history — briefly blocked in 2012 and again in 2015 — which has led many users to wonder whether it is actually legal to use. The current position is nuanced but largely clear.
Is Dailymotion Legal in India Today?
Yes, Dailymotion is currently legal and accessible in India. It is not a banned platform. The website operates globally in 183 languages across 43 localised versions and is owned by Canal+, a French media group.
It is not an illegal streaming site. Dailymotion operates within legal boundaries, maintaining copyright compliance mechanisms and content moderation systems that align with Indian law requirements for online intermediaries.
The 2012 Block: What Happened?
In May 2012, India blocked Dailymotion along with several other video-sharing websites following concerns about copyright infringement. Indian media companies had filed complaints about their content being uploaded without authorisation.
However, this ban was reversed the following month. The Madras High Court clarified that only specific infringing URLs should be blocked, not the entire platform. Since then, Dailymotion has been fully accessible in India.
The 2015 Temporary Block
In January 2015, Dailymotion was among 32 websites temporarily blocked by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) for allegedly hosting content linked to ISIS jihadi propaganda. The block was reversed within days as the government recognised it was an overreach affecting legitimate platforms, and the unblocking process began on compliant websites.
The Current Legal Framework: IT Act and IT Rules 2021
Dailymotion operates in India as an online intermediary under the Information Technology Act, 2000 and the IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021. These rules require platforms to: Remove unlawful content upon government or court orders; appoint a grievance officer for India-based complaints; follow safe harbour provisions by acting against reported infringing content; and maintain transparency in content moderation.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has set up the Sahyog portal (operational since October 2024) to automate takedown requests to digital platforms. Platforms that comply with these requests maintain their legal operating status in India.
What Content Is Restricted?
Dailymotion itself prohibits content that violates copyright, promotes terrorism, contains child abuse, spreads hate speech, or is sexually explicit. Under Indian law, platforms that fail to act on such content lose safe harbour protection and become liable. Using Dailymotion to access or upload pirated copyrighted content remains illegal under the Copyright Act, 1957, even if the platform itself is accessible.
Final Thought
Dailymotion is fully legal to access and use in India. It is not blocked and operates as a legitimate international video platform. However, using it to access or distribute pirated content is illegal under Indian copyright law, just as it would be on any other platform. Watch legally available content, and you have nothing to worry about.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. Is Dailymotion blocked by any ISP in India?
Occasionally, some ISPs like BSNL have been found to block Dailymotion in certain regions without clear official orders, which has been criticised as a net neutrality violation. However, these are generally unintended or unauthorised blocks, not a government-ordered ban. If you face access issues, try a different ISP or contact TRAI.
Q2. Can I upload videos on Dailymotion from India?
Yes. Indian users can upload content on Dailymotion as long as the content complies with Dailymotion’s terms of service and Indian law. Uploading copyrighted content without permission is a violation of both Dailymotion’s policies and the Copyright Act, 1957.
Q3. Is watching pirated content on Dailymotion illegal in India?
Yes. Watching or downloading copyrighted content that has been uploaded without the rights holder’s permission is illegal under the Copyright Act, 1957. Distributing or sharing such content carries criminal penalties including imprisonment of 6 months to 3 years and fines.
Q4. Can the Indian government block Dailymotion again?
Yes. Under Section 69A of the IT Act, 2000, the central government can block any online platform if it is satisfied that doing so is necessary for reasons of sovereignty, security, public order, or prevention of incitement. However, blocking an entire platform is usually a last resort after other compliance measures fail.
