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In a major regulatory sweep, the Indian government has banned 25 OTT platforms, including popular names like Ullu, ALTT, Desiflix, and Big Shots, for violating content guidelines. These platforms have been streaming sexually explicit material under the guise of entertainment for quite some time.
Discussions about OTT platform ban have surged following concerns over inappropriate streaming content. The government's move toward a stricter ban on OTT platforms reflects growing public demand for content moderation.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), following a series of public complaints and internal investigations, determined that these streaming platforms were hosting and distributing soft pornographic content masked as ‘erotic web series.’
The news of the Ullu ALTT ban sparked debate on creative freedom versus cultural responsibility. The ministry stated that the content breached provisions of the Information Technology Act, 2000, and the IT Rules, 2021, both of which establish standards for decency, content moderation, and child safety.
The rise in obscene content in India has triggered calls for clearer content guidelines on digital platforms. Authorities found that the platforms lacked sufficient measures to filter or restrict explicit material, enabling easy access, especially for minors, to adult content. This prompted urgent government intervention.
The action was taken following consultations with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD), the Department of Legal Affairs (DoLA), and industry stakeholders, including FICCI and CII, as well as digital rights and child welfare experts.
MeitY OTT Action is part of a broader effort to enforce accountability in India’s streaming ecosystem. The decision underscores a coordinated government effort to reinforce responsible digital content distribution.
The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (I&B) confirmed that 18 OTT platforms were targeted in this crackdown. As part of the action, the government has blocked 19 websites, 10 mobile applications (7 on the Google Play Store and three on the Apple App Store), and 57 related social media accounts to prevent further public access to obscene or pornographic material.
An official statement reiterated that these platforms were circulating content that undermined public decency and safety, warning that further violations by other services could lead to similar consequences.
The crackdown follows repeated warnings from Union Minister Anurag Singh Thakur, who earlier stressed that ‘freedom of creative expression cannot come at the cost of morality and legal compliance.’
In March 2024, the ministry had already taken action against 18 platforms, including MoodX, Besharams, Voovi, Rabbit, Xtramood, Nuefliks, and Prime Play, among others. Despite earlier measures, several platforms reportedly continued publishing unregulated adult content, pushing authorities to take broader and more decisive action.
Tighter digital content regulation may reshape how creators and online platforms approach storytelling. This sweeping move sends a strong message to the OTT industry that strict regulation of content is non-negotiable, particularly in matters of obscenity and child safety.
The government has urged all digital media platforms to adhere to content moderation standards and comply with relevant legal frameworks to avoid potential punitive measures in the future.
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