New Delhi: The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (MIB) on Tuesday ordered the blocking of 25 Over-the-Top (OTT) platforms for publishing content deemed obscene, vulgar, and in some cases, pornographic.
The move follows rising public concern and multiple references from statutory bodies about the nature of content hosted on these platforms.
The action was taken in consultation with 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 such as FICCI and CII, and domain experts on women and child rights.
26 Websites and 14 Mobile Apps Blocked
The government has directed intermediaries to disable access to 26 websites and 14 mobile applications (9 on Google Play Store and 5 on Apple App Store), under provisions of the Information Technology Act, 2000 and the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.
The blocked platforms include:
Big Shots App, Desiflix, Boomex, NeonX VIP, Navarasa Lite, Gulab App, Kangan App, Bull App, ShowHit, Jalva App, Wow Entertainment, Look Entertainment, Hitprime, Fugi, Feneo, ShowX, Sol Talkies, Adda TV, ALTT, HotX VIP, Hulchul App, MoodX, Triflicks, Ullu, and Mojflix.
Nature of Violations
The content on these platforms reportedly contained:
- Sexual innuendos and extended sexually explicit scenes with nudity, often lacking any storyline or social context.
- Portrayals of sex and nudity in inappropriate settings, including depictions involving familial relationships.
- Violations of Section 67 and 67A of the IT Act, Section 292 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), and Section 4 of the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986.
Background and Prior Warnings
The crackdown follows several public grievances and complaints from the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), particularly against platforms like Ullu and ALTT, in July and August 2024.
Notable actions preceding the ban include:
- Takedown of Ullu’s controversial web-series House Arrest in May 2025 following Ministry intervention.
- Advisory issued on February 19, 2025, reminding all OTT platforms to comply with the IT Rules, 2021 and laws on obscenity.
- Communications sent to all 25 platforms in September 2024 urging compliance, which were largely ignored.
- Five platforms, previously blocked in March 2024, reportedly resumed operations through new domain names.
Role of the Self-Regulatory Body
The Digital Publisher Content Grievances Council (DPCGC), headed by a former Supreme Court judge and comprising 40 OTT members (including Ullu and ALTT), had earlier taken limited action. These included:
- Editing of inappropriate scenes on ALTT, where nudity and sex were portrayed without context.
- Removal of over 100 series from Ullu, which allegedly re-uploaded or republished unedited content to bypass scrutiny.
The Ministry emphasized that the decision was taken only after careful consultation with legal, regulatory, and industry stakeholders. By invoking its powers under the IT Act and Rules, the government aims to send a strong message against the exploitation of digital freedom for profit through obscene and exploitative content.
The MIB reiterated that while it supports creative expression, content violating legal norms and public decency cannot be allowed under the guise of entertainment.
