Government Cracks Down On Obscene Content, Blocks 20+ OTT Platforms Including ULLU, ALTT, Desiflix

Targeting sexually explicit content online, the Government has ordered the blocking of more than 20 OTT platforms, including major players such as ULLU, ALTT, and Desiflix, the Indian Express reported.

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has issued directions to Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to restrict or disable access to these platforms within India.

As per the notification, the action has been taken under the provisions of the Information Technology Act, 2000, and the IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.

The ministry stated that intermediaries have a legal duty to remove or restrict access to unlawful content.

The government said the platforms were hosting material that violated Indian legal norms and cultural values.

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These OTT services have been found in breach of several legal provisions, including Section 67 and 67A of the IT Act, 2000, Section 294 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and Section 4 of the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986.

The banned apps 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, Triflicks.

This development follows an earlier plea before the Supreme Court in April, which sought a ban on sexually explicit OTT and social media content.

The bench remarked, “It’s not our domain, you do something,” indicating that it was up to the executive to act.

The Solicitor General at the time pointed to existing laws and mentioned additional steps being contemplated.

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