In a major crackdown on obscene content, the Central government has directed Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to block access to 25 OTT platforms, naming major players like ULLU, ALTT (formerly ALTBalaji), and Desiflix. The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (MIB) took this step after identifying these platforms as hosting sexually explicit material that violated legal and cultural standards.
The affected platforms also include: Big Shots App, Boomex, Navarasa Lite, Gulab App, Kangan App, Bull App, Jalva App, Wow Entertainment, Look Entertainment, Hitprime, Feneo, ShowX, Sol Talkies, Adda TV, HotX VIP, Hulchul App, MoodX, NeonX VIP, Fugi, Mojflix, and Triflicks.
Breaches of Indian Laws & Intermediary Obligations
According to authorities, these platforms breached multiple provisions of Indian law:
Sections 67 and 67A of the IT Act, 2000—on transmission of obscene content
Section 294 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023—addressing public obscenity
Section 4 of the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986
Additionally, under Section 79(3)(b) of the IT Act, intermediaries lose immunity if they fail to remove flagged content promptly. The enforcement leverages Rule 3(1)(d) and Rule 7 of the IT (Intermediary Guidelines & Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, which require platforms to avoid hosting content that undermines public morality or state integrity.
DOT Report Triggers Action
Regulatory authorities based their decisions on a comprehensive 90-page report from the Department of Telecommunications. It identified multiple web series—such as ALTT’s Qatil Haseena and ULLU’s Badan—where episodes included substantial sexual content with no clear storyline or artistic justification. In some cases, nearly the entire episode duration was dedicated to erotic visuals.
Previous Crackdowns & Ongoing Oversight
This latest action follows a similar enforcement in March 2024, when 18 OTT platforms, 19 websites, 10 mobile apps, and 57 associated social media channels were blocked for streaming vulgar or pornographic content. Platforms affected at that time included Dreams Films, Voices, MoodX, Mojflix, NeonX, Chikooflix, and others.
Regulatory bodies, including the National Commission for Women (NCW) and the NCPCR, had previously flagged certain OTT content for themes like incest, abuse, or violence—even in production accessed by minors—often without age checks or viewer warnings.
Why This Ban Matters
India enforces zero tolerance for erotic content masquerading as storytelling.
Intermediaries are now on notice: failure to act on government directives can strip away legal protection.
A strong signal to OTT industry and content creators: compliance with India’s cultural and legal norms is non-negotiable.