New Delhi, July 25: In a major move to curb the spread of objectionable digital content, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has directed the blocking of 25 over-the-top (OTT) platforms for allegedly distributing obscene, vulgar, and in some cases, pornographic material.
The order, issued on July 23, 2025, followed consultations with multiple government agencies and civil society groups. Platforms such as Ullu, ALTT, Big Shots App, NeonX VIP, and Desiflix were found to be violating key provisions of Indian law, including Section 67 and 67A of the Information Technology Act, Section 292 of the Indian Penal Code, and Section 4 of the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986.
The ban covers 26 websites and 14 mobile apps — nine on the Google Play Store and five on the Apple App Store — all of which are to be disabled under provisions of the IT Act, 2000, and the IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.
According to ministry sources, the content in question frequently included graphic sexual innuendos, prolonged nudity, and explicit visuals. The ministry noted that many of these productions lacked meaningful storylines or social relevance. In some instances, the content featured inappropriate sexual depictions involving family members, raising serious concerns about legality and decency.
Government officials confirmed that the platforms had been warned multiple times. In September 2024, all 25 received official notices, following a February 2025 advisory urging compliance with obscenity laws and the IT Rules’ Code of Ethics. Despite this, the platforms allegedly continued to publish inappropriate content.
One example cited was the series House Arrest on the Ullu platform, which was removed in May after government intervention. However, authorities claim that some platforms circumvented previous bans by launching new domains. At least five platforms resumed streaming similar content after being blocked in March 2024.
The latest crackdown involved input from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD), Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Department of Legal Affairs (DoLA), industry bodies like FICCI and CII, and subject matter experts on women’s and children’s rights.
The Digital Publisher Content Grievances Council (DPCGC), a self-regulatory body led by a former Supreme Court judge, previously flagged ALTT for broadcasting content deemed “totally distasteful and bizarre,” citing gratuitous sex and nudity without context.
Additionally, over 100 web series were taken down from Ullu, though the council reported that the platform often re-uploaded unedited versions after temporary removals — a tactic viewed as an attempt to bypass government warnings.
The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) had also raised concerns in 2024, specifically targeting Ullu and ALTT for alleged violations. The MIB stated that the action was further prompted by numerous public complaints regarding the nature of the content being streamed.
