The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) on Friday banned 25 OTT platforms including Ullu, ALTT (AltBalaji), Desiflix in the country. The government says that these digital platforms have violated Indian IT laws by showing “obscene” and “soft porn” content. Now users will not be able to access these apps, websites and social media handles associated with them in India.
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According to the government, all the banned applications and OTT services were showing pornographic web series and content in the name of “entertainment” or “web series”. Themes like sex, nudity, indecent situations and body shaming were being deliberately shown in them, which is a violation of the IT Act 2000 and the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986. Apart from this, this action was taken after the advice of experts and objections from several ministries.
Which platforms are banned?
The government has banned a total of 25 OTT platforms. The major names among them are:
- Ullu
- ALTT (Alt Balaji)
- Desiflix
- Big Shots App
- Boomex
- Navarasa Lite
- Rose App
- Kangan App
- Bull App
- Jalva App
- Look Entertainment
- MoodX
- NeonX VIP
- Feneo
- Hitprime
The government has imposed this ban under these major laws, including Information Technology Act, 2000 (Section 67 & 67A), Indian Justice Code, 2023 (Section 294), Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986 (Section 4).
MIB says that the complaints received many times, the comments of the Supreme Court and the references of organizations like the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) formed the basis for this action. Earlier in February also, an advisory was given to OTT platforms to follow the code of conduct, but the companies kept avoiding it.
The government has said that it is the responsibility of digital platforms to not make their content a medium of obscenity or expression in the name of ‘creative expression’. According to NDTV , Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur said that such content has a negative impact on society and also has a bad influence on children.
Which OTT platforms has the government banned?
The Indian government has banned ULLU, ALTT (AltBalaji), Desiflix, Big Shots App, Boomex, NeonX VIP, MoodX, Gulab App, Look Entertainment, Hitprime, Feneo and a total of 25 OTT platforms in India.
Why have these platforms been banned?
According to the government, these apps and platforms were promoting obscene, sexually explicit and indecent portrayal of women content, which is a violation of Indian laws.
What does the ban mean, will we not be able to access these apps anymore?
After the ban, it will not be possible to access these apps, websites and social media handles from any device in India. ISPs have been given clear instructions to block access to all these platforms.
Which laws did the companies break?
These OTT platforms are accused of violating the Information Technology Act 2000 (Section 67, 67A), Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023 (Section 294), and Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act 1986 (Section 4).
Is this ban permanent or temporary?
The government order is currently in effect as a ‘full ban’. Any further relief or change is possible only on the next instruction of the court or the government.
Have such bans been imposed before or is this the first time?
This is not the first time, even before this, apps like ULLU, ALTT had received warnings from the government and self-regulatory bodies. Action was taken against some platforms in 2024 as well, but many times the companies became active again by creating a new URL.
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