In a significant crackdown on the dissemination of obscene and pornographic material online, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has directed Internet Service Providers (ISPs) across India to block public access to 25 over-the-top (OTT) platforms and associated websites. This move aims to ensure stricter enforcement of content regulation laws and protect users, particularly minors, from exposure to explicit material.
According to a report by Storyboard18, the MIB initiated the action after discovering that several OTT platforms were publishing and transmitting objectionable advertisements and pornographic content. These actions were found to be in violation of multiple Indian laws. In response, the ministry issued an official notification mandating ISPs to restrict access to these platforms within Indian territory.
Prominent OTT apps taken down in this action include ULLU, ALTT (formerly ALTBalaji), Big Shots App, and Desiflix, among others.
The following 25 OTT apps and websites have been blocked:
ALTT
ULLU
Big Shots App
Jalva App
Wow Entertainment
Look Entertainment
Hitprime
Feneo
ShowX
Sol Talkies
Kangan App
Bull App
Adda TV
HotX VIP
Desiflix
Boomex
Navarasa Lite
Gulab App
Fugi
Mojflix
Hulchul App
MoodX
NeonX VIP
Triflicks
XPrime
These platforms were allegedly distributing sexually explicit videos and advertisements in violation of content norms and legal provisions under Indian law.
To justify its action, the MIB invoked the following laws:
Section 67 and 67A of the Information Technology Act, 2000: These sections prohibit the publication or transmission of obscene and sexually explicit material in electronic form.
Section 294 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023: This replaces the IPC section dealing with obscene acts and songs.
Section 4 of the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986: This section prohibits the publication and distribution of materials that depict women in an indecent or derogatory manner.
Additionally, the government pointed to Section 79(3)(b) of the IT Act, which warns intermediaries—including platforms and ISPs—that they may lose their safe harbour protections if they fail to remove or disable access to unlawful content after being officially notified.
Despite the long-standing presence of many of these platforms, authorities argue that the scale and intensity of content violations necessitated action. The rising complaints and concerns over easy access to adult content by minors and vulnerable users have pushed the government to strengthen digital content oversight.
This decision is part of a broader regulatory framework the government is developing to hold OTT platforms accountable and ensure they align with Indian content standards. While this move has sparked debates over censorship and freedom of expression, officials maintain that the ban is a necessary measure to uphold public morality and protect societal interests.
The latest crackdown sends a clear message to digital content providers operating in India: compliance with content regulations is not optional. The government is expected to issue further guidelines to streamline content moderation practices across OTT platforms and to encourage the creation of a self-regulatory environment that balances creative freedom with legal responsibility.
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