In a significant regulatory move, the Ministry of Information
and Broadcasting (I&B) has directed the blocking of 25 OTT platforms—including popular names such as Ullu, ALTT, and Desiflix—for allegedly
streaming obscene and, in some cases, pornographic content. The directive was
issued on July 23, 2025, following inter-ministerial consultations and expert
reviews, according to official sources.
The government action targets both websites and mobile apps,
with 26 URLs and 14 applications—nine on the Google Play Store and five on
Apple’s App Store—being blocked under provisions of the Information
Technology Act, 2000, and the IT Rules, 2021. These platforms have
been accused of violating Indian laws concerning obscenity, indecent
representation of women, and child protection.
This move comes after months of warnings and advisories. In
September 2024, the Centre had issued formal notices to the concerned platforms
to adhere to content regulations. Despite this, many continued to stream or
re-upload explicit content, even after temporary removals. In some instances,
platforms blocked earlier—including five apps in March 2024—resurfaced
under new domains.
Among the blocked platforms are
Ullu, ALTT, Desiflix, 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.
The decision was made in consultation with the Ministries of
Home Affairs, Electronics and IT, Women and Child Development, and the Department of Legal Affairs, and industry associations like FICCI
and CII, along with domain experts on women and child rights.
A senior government official stated, “There was hardly
any storyline, theme, or message in a social context. A large portion of the
content was obscene and vulgar, involving sexually explicit scenes, nudity, and
even depictions of inappropriate relationships.”
The Digital Publisher Content Grievances Council (DPCGC)—a self-regulatory body with around 40 OTT members—had earlier taken action
against Ullu and ALTT, ordering removal of over 100 series that lacked
narrative context and showed nudity merely to boost viewership.
ALT Digital Media Entertainment, a subsidiary of Balaji
Telefilms owned by Ektaa Kapoor and Shobha Kapoor, runs ALTT. Vibhu
Agarwal, a media entrepreneur, is the founder of the Ullu app.
Legal action is based on violations of:
- Sections
67 & 67A of the IT Act (publishing obscene/pornographic material
online)
- Section
294 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
- Section
4 of the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986
The Save Culture Save Bharat Foundation had also
appealed for action, calling such content a threat to India's cultural fabric.
With the new ban, Internet Service Providers (ISPs) have
been instructed to block access, ensuring that such content is no longer
available to Indian users. The Department of Telecommunications is also
coordinating the compliance.
This marks one of the most comprehensive crackdowns on
online streaming platforms in India, signalling the Centre’s resolve to enforce
digital content regulation and uphold societal and legal standards.
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